H.E. Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov is Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the EU. He graduated with honours from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) and joined diplomatic service in 1976. Throughout the years he has worked both in Russia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as in countries abroad, including Greece, Cyprus and Austria. He was Deputy High Representative for the Bosnia Peace Implementation in Sarajevo, and Russian Special Representative for Cyprus and later the Balkans. In 2000 he was awarded the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Before being appointed Ambassador to the EU in 2005, he was Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

H.E. Ambassador Chizhov conducted analytical research work on European security, OSCE, Russia-EU and Russia-NATO relations, Mediterranean, Balkans, problems of Cyprus and Northern Ireland and UN peace-keeping operations. He was decorated with several state awards.

He will address the audience on the topic: "No Europe without Russia". The lecture is followed by a reception around 21h.