On February 23, 2026, UNU-CRIS Director Philippe De Lombaerde delivered a keynote address at the 8th UNESCO MOST Winter School in Kőszeg, Hungary. The event, themed "Lasting Peace and Human Security," brought together scholars, policymakers, and civil society actors to explore the conditions for sustainable peace.
His presentation, titled "Peace, conflict, interdependence, and (regional) cooperation," set the stage for the panel "Ambassadors for Peace Initiative: Pathways and Challenges to Cooperation". The session, chaired by János Bogárdi, explored collaborative approaches to prevent violence and promote long-term stability. Fellow panelists contributing to the discussion included Emil Brix, Donato Kiniger-Passigli, Réka Varga, and Emma Slažanská.
Highlighting the United Nations University's strong global presence and commitment to these issues, the Winter School was also attended by UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala and UNU Vice-Rector Shen Xiaomeng.
This event also aligns with UNU's expanding global footprint: UNU will soon open a new institute in Hungary, hosted by iASK, dedicated to advancing research on peace, security, and global transformation.
