Realising Europe’s soft power in external cooperation and trade (RESPECT) is a research project funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020 (GA 770680) for the period 2018- 2021. Implemented by a consortium of 10 academic institutions and research institutes, a key focus is to investigate factors that support or inhibit attainment of EU trade and non-trade policy objectives and to draw out policy recommendations for the design of external trade and investment policies. The aim of this workshop is to present and discuss the main findings of RESPECT research with the Brussels community.