After centuries of conflict culminating in two devastating World Wars, the countries of Western Europe have for the past half-century witnessed an era of calm and increasing cooperation. On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the historic Treaty of Rome, Swedish diplomat Caroline Vicini, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, will reflect on the transformation of Europe that has paralled the expansion and evolution of the European Economic Community (EEC, popularly known as the "Common Market") first into the European Community (EC-1967), and then, since the Maastricht treaty of 1993, into the "European Community" (EC).

Caroline Vicini is one of Sweden's leading experts in the area of security policy, and has served in Sweden's Foreign Service for 20 years, including postings in Paris, Algiers, and Rome (where she dealt with Albania and the Balkan War). She has also led work on Sweden's relations with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe, including defence material co-operation, conventional arms control as well as civil and military crises management operations. Ms. Vicini has also served as a program officer and NGO-liaison at the head quarters of World Food Program (WFP) in Rome, and, in addition to her responsibility for the day-to-day running of the embassy in DC, currently is project leader for the outreach program "Sweden on the Potomac."

Refreshments will be served and the event is FREE.

Location: The Multipurpose Room of Language House in St. Mary's Hall

The lecture is sponsored by the Office of International Programs.