Havas chosen as agency partner under the European Commission’s new Framework Contract

Havas has been selected under the European Commission’s new Framework Contract, spanning five years, to support communication initiatives for the Commission and its main Directorates-General across Member States and beyond.

As the only France-based European communications group chosen, Havas further strengthens its standing as a leading reference in strategic communication at the European level. The appointment reinforces the Group’s long-term strategy to consolidate its leadership in Europe and builds on a strong track record of delivering successful mandates for the European Commission.

Led by the Havas Paris teams, the assignment will follow an integrated model that combines pan-European strategic alignment with deep local expertise and operational excellence. This approach is designed to improve understanding of European initiatives and highlight their tangible impact on citizens’ everyday lives.

“Europe’s strength lies in its diversity. The strength of European communication lies in its ability to build connection, meaning and understanding between institutions and citizens,” said Julien Carette, CEO of Havas Paris.

To meet the complex requirements of institutional and international stakeholders, Havas leverages its distinctive integrated model, bringing together strategic, creative and media expertise through innovative and differentiated approaches. The H/Advisors network—Havas’ global strategic advisory platform—further strengthens capabilities in reputation management, influence and public diplomacy, closely linked with the Group’s local teams. The recently launched Converged.AI strategic platform exemplifies this integrated approach by uniting advisory, creative and media talent to deliver coherent, measurable and impact-driven communication solutions.

“What major institutions are looking for today are partners capable of understanding complexity, grasping its human implications, and translating it into clear and accessible narratives. This is precisely what our integrated model enables,” said Raphaël de Andréis, CEO, Havas Creative Europe.

Under the new Framework Contract, Havas will support communications around key European public policies spanning employment, justice, health, defence, and economic and social transition, as well as the protection of freedoms, promotion of shared values, and defence of the rule of law. In an increasingly fragmented media environment marked by rising mistrust, Havas aims to enhance the clarity and visibility of EU action, encourage fact-based dialogue and pedagogy, and strengthen European cohesion at a time of intensifying global competition between governance models.

The win underscores Havas’ deep European roots, reflected in its Paris headquarters, its listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, and a network of agencies embedded within Europe’s economic, cultural and institutional ecosystems. This strong European identity, combined with an extensive international presence, positions Havas as a unique player—an integrated European network with comprehensive communications capabilities across all 27 Member States, able to operate at continental scale while remaining closely attuned to local contexts and citizen expectations.

“Being a European group today means embracing a particular responsibility: to defend a model founded on dialogue, democracy and openness to the world,” said Stéphane Fouks, Chairman of H/Advisors and Executive Vice President, Havas Group.

This appointment reaffirms Havas’ role as a trusted partner for institutions, international organisations and global corporations navigating complex challenges related to reputation, influence and transformation.