The Brussels Stakeholder Workshop, organised by the Carnegie Europe Foundation, took place on April 17, 2023. The objetive of the meeting was to discuss a series of recommendations – based on the research carried out by the ENGAGE consortium – for a more joined-up, coherent and sustainable EU external action. The meeting was attended by officials and experts from the cabinet of High Representative/Vice President (HRVP) Josep Borrell, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European External Action Service – including the current EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Think tank experts also took part in the workshop.

To initiate discussions, Monika Sus and Cornelius Adebahr presented seven actionable recommendations featured in the ENGAGE White Paper. The main topics of discussion were: (1) enhancing the role of the HRVP; (2) the EU's competences in security and defence; (3) the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy and EU enlargement; (4) advancing gender and climate policy mainstreaming; (5) possibilities for the introduction of qualified majority voting in CFSP matters; (6) the potential of EU Special Representatives (EUSRs); and (7) how to improve the EU's approach to strategic partnerships.

The Brussels Workshop allowed ENGAGE researchers to collect valuable feedback that will serve to finetune and upgrade the final ENGAGE White Paper, which that the consortium will present at the project's June 2024 Final Conference.