The overall aim of the workshop is to explore together the value and workings of a Community of Practice (CoP) that could bring together a collection of already existing (but so far scattered) JRC practitioners endeavouring different flavours of citizen engagement.

The task of a Citizen Engagement CoP could be to tap into the potential of an extended pool of expertise, improve information sharing and enhance the collaboration among relevant communities, with the overall aim of strengthening the contribution of citizens to the EU Policy Making cycle.

The event will be organised around the following specific objectives:

1. Getting to know each other in a convivial atmosphere.
2. Mapping the different understandings, dimensions and existing activities on citizen engagement in JRC.
3. Assessing the ‘engagement capacity’ of the JRC in view of policy needs.
4. Exploring synergies and developing ideas about how ENGAGE can effectively create and nurture a ‘culture’ and an effective capacity of engagement of citizens across the JRC in order to better respond to policy requests.
5. Defining the role of the CoP on citizen engagement:
   1. What are the benefits of connecting the currently scattered work done at the JRC under a CoP? What are potential challenges?
   2. How does this endeavour respond to different types of challenges of citizen engagement practices (geographical, temporal, institutional, practical, methodological, etc.)?
   3. What are the areas in need of collaborative action: as far as societal engagement is concerned, exploring different possible future joint outcomes, and collaborative approaches.
6. Introducing engagement spaces such as the makerspace and the collaborative space in Ispra, as well as other kindred initiatives.
7. Moving towards a sustainable community of practice (aka next steps).