European Union diplomats: an emerging epistemic community? College of Europe Policy Paper December 2019.

The Lisbon Treaty introduced far-reaching changes in the field of European Union (EU) external action, including institutional reforms such as the de facto creation of an EU diplomatic service and new policy-making instruments. Yet, ten years later, some scholars and policy-makers alike still seem to believe that EU diplomats are mere coordinators of member states’ positions. What does the notion of ‘EU diplomat’ as a hybrid figure mediating between national diplomacy and the EU’s post-Westphalian diplomatic engagement stand for? This policy brief argues that we are witnessing the emergence of a novel epistemic community, that is, a unique network of EU professionals with specific expertise and competences. In order to continue shaping its own diplomatic culture and epistemic community, the EU should invest more in training, contributing to the following key goals: the promotion of ‘layered’ knowledge, a shared working culture among EU officials, joint ownership of EU external action between EU and member state diplomats, reinforced socialisation and the further development of an esprit de corps