public diplomacy
In this piece, we delve into the composition of EU staffing and its significance for Central Asian nations aiming to bolster their standing within the EU. We scrutinise the tug-of-war between neutrality and national interests within EU personnel, taking Germany as our case study. We explore how factors such as educational and labour migration to Belgium mould the staffing in EU institutions. The article underscores that a deep comprehension of the EU workforce and a strategic focus on budding EU personnel through public diplomacy tools is critical for Central Asian nations’ effective EU engagement. These countries ought to boost the EU’s awareness of their region through cultural entities, youth groups, and media, targeting future EU personnel in their early stages of career development.