At Castro EU, our experienced team is ready to assist with European policy and communications challenges. We specialize in Corporate Affairs, Government Relations, and Policy Communications & Campaigns. Our services include communications consulting, media guidance & training, lobbying advice, political monitoring, and crisis management. Together with our partner New Balls Please we organize stakeholder events. Let us help you navigate the complexities of the EU effectively.
Enhancing your company’s reputation through strategic advice, media monitoring, and training
Managing and developing relationships with pivotal stakeholders and providing critical political insights
Delivering effective communication strategies and campaign executions, including targeted media buys
Together we’ll determine the goals and the strategy to achieve them. Of course, our team of experts can also help you with the implementation. Castro was founded five years ago and we have already worked with and for over seventy companies, organizations and governments. From large to small and from multinational to local companies and organizations.
Short lines of communication are important for successful cooperation. We like to work intensively with our clients to achieve the right result.
Castro believes you are most successful when you have a clear focus. Together, we determine what the goals are and how we can and will achieve them. Measurable.
Castro works rapidly and enjoys actively contributing to achieving your goals. We are pragmatic and goal-oriented. With concrete actions, we will make the difference for you.
The world of (corporate) communications and lobbying are dynamic. There's no 9-to-5 mentality to match. At Castro, you won't find one. We're always available.
Uber | Communications
Since 2021, Uber has partnered with Castro to enhance their communications efforts. They sought our expertise to help strategize and execute their communications activities.
Our work with Uber includes an impactful EU stakeholder campaign in Brussels, to strengthen Uber’s engagement with European policymakers. We have also assisted in Uber’s succesful market launch in an EU member state, coordinating press releases, media events, and spokesperson training to ensure a unified and highly visible communication strategy across European markets.
These efforts demonstrate our ongoing collaboration with Uber, as we continue to support them in navigating and effectively communicating within the European landscape.
“Castro epitomizes trust and excellence in translating our strategic vision into actionable plans, particularly in expanding our footprint across new EU territories. Their expertise in advisory coupled with a robust network of local partners ensures impeccable execution at every step.”
Rick Janse Kok | Uber, Head of Communications Northern Europe
J&J Innovative Medicine Nederland | Communications
J&J Innovative Medicine Netherlands (formerly Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson) approached Castro in the summer of 2023. The company asked if, in the run-up to the Lower House elections, we could organise an election activity around the theme of healthcare. In the end, in consultation with J&J and the other two clients (Amgen and MSD), the choice was made for an election debate. The organisation of the debate ended up being a co-production between Castro and New Balls Please Netherlands (our joint venture together with Belgian event organiser New Balls Please). Humberto Tan acted as debate leader and Frits Huffnagel as co-host. Participants included Fleur Agema (PVV), Mona Keijzer (BBB) and Sophie Hermans (VVD). Many thousands of guests watched live online via telegraaf.nl. NPO found the recording and the debate so successful that the broadcaster broadcast the election debate many times until the elections on NPO Politics.The success of the debate in The Hague was repeated in April 2024 ahead of the European elections. In Brussels, Castro EU and New Balls Please organised another debate, this time with Frits Wester as debate leader. The list leaders of D66 and NSC participated, as well as directly-electable candidates from VVD and BBB. Once again, NPO broadcast the debate many times.
Koen Venekamp, Lead Government Affairs & Policy at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Netherlands:
“I experienced the partnership with Castro and New Balls Please as incredibly pleasant. It was a conscious choice, because they combine an excellent network in politics and media with a lot of experience in organising events and all the technology involved. Castro and New Balls Please do not settle for a six, they go for a top result and, as far as I am concerned, they succeeded.”
Smart Delta Resources | Communications
Smart Delta Resources is a cross-border cooperation between companies, port, knowledge institutions, network operators and governments in the Scheldt-Delta region. Their ambition is a competitive, climate-neutral and circular industry by 2050.
An ambitious goal, which created a major challenge: how can Smart Delta Resources communicate this mission and vision as effectively as possible, both internally towards and with all members, and to the outside world, including policymakers?
This is why they approached Castro Communications. By developing a clear positioning, storyline, and communication strategy, we helped Smart Delta Resources articulate their ambitious goals in a comprehensible and appealing way. This forms the basis for all Smart Delta Resources’ communications.
Castro Communications is now helping to further develop the positioning into a clear communication approach, communication tools and a media campaign.
“Castro Communications’ expertise and hands-on approach enabled us to translate our message into a clear and convincing strategy. Many people are impressed by how well our vision is now articulated and further implemented. It really felt like Castro was part of our team.”
– Onno Sinke, communications manager Smart Delta Resources