The Academy of International Affairs North Rhine-Westphalia, in partnership with the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union, invites policymakers, practitioners and researchers to a workshop examining the role of European regions in strengthening the Union’s soft power and cultural diplomacy. The event takes place at the NRW Representation in Brussels, against the backdrop of the European Commission’s ongoing work to integrate the 2016 Joint Communication on international cultural relations within the broader Culture Compass for Europe.
The workshop addresses four interconnected themes: the distinctive contributions that regional actors can make to European external relations; the soft power dimensions of higher education and science diplomacy; the evolving role of national institutes of culture and arm’s length bodies; and the implications of AI and digital transformation for public diplomacy practice. Structured panel discussions and plenary debate will consider how multi-level governance might be harnessed more effectively to build European influence and resilience in a contested international environment. An evening programme will provide opportunities for informal exchange. Further information are available from Stuart MacDonald, AIA NRW Fellow.