Successful EU Negotiation Training in Prague

How can one break an imminent deadlock in EU negotiations? What strategies and tactics are essential to navigating complex negotiations? And what insights can be drawn from recent high-stake negotiations, such as the EU-Mercosur trade deal talks and the Brexit discussions?

A group of highly motivated Czech diplomats-in-training tackled these pressing questions during a three-day, hands-on, EU negotiations training in Prague. The immersive programme, which took place in the historic Trauttmansdorffský Palác, included EU simulations across various committees and working groups, such as the Political and Security Committee. Participants grappled with balancing national interests while striving to reach a unified EU agreement and practiced with chairing negotiations. The training culminated in a large-scale text simulation that mirrored real-life dynamics, in which the participants eventually reached a deal after ample exploration and various informal talks in the corridors.

Throughout the training, these future diplomats critically assessed their own negotiation styles, evaluated their own respective negotiation strategies, and exchanged valuable insights from previous experiences, fostering an excellent environment for this training. Clingendael Academy is proud to have implemented this training and extends its sincere gratitude to the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechia for their ongoing collaboration and fruitful cooperation.