28. November 2025 19:00
Colin A. Munro CMG
Venue
“Zum Achter“ (Ruderklub)
Neuenheimer Landstr. 3A
Heidelberg
The year 2025 marks several major anniversaries of peace: the 80th of the end of WWII, the 50th of the Helsinki Final Act, and the 30th of the Dayton Agreement. Colin Munro links these milestones to a lesser-known anniversary — 230 years since Immanuel Kant’s “Perpetual Peace” (“Zum ewigen Frieden”), whose call that “no state shall by force interfere with another’s government” remains strikingly relevant. From Kant’s vision of “world citizenship” to Robert Schuman’s 1950 proposal that laid the foundations of today’s European Union, Colin reflects on Europe’s continuing, often fragile, pursuit of peace. As we recall that it is five years since the UK left the EU, this talk asks: What have we learned from these anniversaries — and what remains to be done to secure peace in our time?
Colin Munro was born in Edinburgh and educated at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh University, and King’s College London. A career diplomat from 1969 to 2007, he served in Bonn, Kuala Lumpur, Bucharest, and East Berlin before becoming Ambassador to Croatia and later Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OSCE in Vienna. Since retiring, he has worked as a consultant and lecturer on European security, democracy, and human rights. He is Chairman of UK Citizens in Austria (UKCA) and a Board Member of the Austro-British Society (ABS). He speaks several languages and has published widely on European and international affairs.
Admission is free to members; non-members are requested to make a donation of EUR 5 towards expenses (“Unkostenbeitrag”).
28. November 2025 19:00
Colin A. Munro CMG
Venue
“Zum Achter“ (Ruderklub)
Neuenheimer Landstr. 3A
Heidelberg
The year 2025 marks several major anniversaries of peace: the 80th of the end of WWII, the 50th of the Helsinki Final Act, and the 30th of the Dayton Agreement. Colin Munro links these milestones to a lesser-known anniversary — 230 years since Immanuel Kant’s “Perpetual Peace” (“Zum ewigen Frieden”), whose call that “no state shall by force interfere with another’s government” remains strikingly relevant. From Kant’s vision of “world citizenship” to Robert Schuman’s 1950 proposal that laid the foundations of today’s European Union, Colin reflects on Europe’s continuing, often fragile, pursuit of peace. As we recall that it is five years since the UK left the EU, this talk asks: What have we learned from these anniversaries — and what remains to be done to secure peace in our time?
Colin Munro was born in Edinburgh and educated at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh University, and King’s College London. A career diplomat from 1969 to 2007, he served in Bonn, Kuala Lumpur, Bucharest, and East Berlin before becoming Ambassador to Croatia and later Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OSCE in Vienna. Since retiring, he has worked as a consultant and lecturer on European security, democracy, and human rights. He is Chairman of UK Citizens in Austria (UKCA) and a Board Member of the Austro-British Society (ABS). He speaks several languages and has published widely on European and international affairs.
Admission is free to members; non-members are requested to make a donation of EUR 5 towards expenses (“Unkostenbeitrag”).