VENNERI Giulio - Advising on EU External Affairs and Diplomacy (8h)

This compact seminar introduces students to the practical craft of providing policy advice in diplomacy, be it on the external action of the European Union (EU), in international institutions or a national foreign service. It combines essential theoretical foundations with vocational training and immersive exercises that replicate real office dynamics of how diplomatic messages, political analyses and crisis-related briefings are developed for senior decision makers, with thematic references to the EU enlargement policy, the European Neighbourhood Policy and broader CFSP-related issues. A core component of the module is the development of strategic thinking under time pressure, testing students’ resilience, ability to navigate uncertainty and capacity to deliver clear and accessible policy advice in fast-moving situations. They will prepare a full briefing dossier for an urgent diplomatic mission by a top EU official to a third country on the brink of civil war. Students are mentored on how to produce strategic briefing notes, talking points, press material and public outreach messages tailored to high-level diplomatic engagement. They will also be introduced to effective prompting techniques for the responsible and efficient use of generative AI in policy advice work.

Professor: Giulio VENNERI