To be successful, diplomacy today requires not just effective official communication between governments. The PAPD office addresses both domestic and European audiences in a fully coordinated manner. In the United States, the office concentrates on the U.S. and resident foreign media, important individuals, public groups, and the Congress. Overseas, the office directs the Department's press and public diplomacy programs toward a similarly broad spectrum of influential people and organizations in 40 bilateral and multilateral European missions.
Office has two distinct divisions.
The first, the Public Affairs Division, develops and coordinates public affairs action in the United States on behalf of the bureau of European Affairs. Working closely with all levels of EUR and the Department, but especially with the Spokesman and the Bureau of Public Affairs, this staff generates approved policy guidance for the Spokesman and other senior officials. The division integrates public affairs objectives into the policy process within the Bureau, and then creates and carries out strategies to advance those policies with the domestic press, NGO's, Congress, academics, and public interest groups. The Public Diplomacy Division oversees the information, educational and exchange programs conducted by the Bureau's bilateral and multilateral missions abroad. It is primarily responsible within the bureau for judgment on the likely public reaction to proposed policies and actions, as well as for developing public diplomacy strategies for the presentation of policy and initiatives abroad.