Distinguished delegates, honourable chairs, fellow staff members, and esteemed guests,
It is my great honour and joy to welcome you to the fourth edition of Cologne Model United Nations.
CologneMUN has always been about more than just debate. It is a platform for curiosity, courage, and connection—a space where students from across the world come together to engage with the most pressing issues of our time. But getting here was not easy.
After the pandemic brought everything to a sudden halt, it took resilience, rebuilding, and an extraordinary amount of dedication to bring this conference back to life. For years, the idea of hosting CologneMUN again remained just that—an idea. Yet here we are in 2025, thanks to a small group of students who refused to let that vision fade. We worked hard, we learned from the past, and now we are proud to say: CologneMUN is back—stronger than ever.
Our theme this year, “Finding Common Ground in Times of Global Unrest,” reflects the spirit of this revival.
We live in an age of conflict and complexity—where war, climate breakdown, authoritarianism, and displacement dominate headlines. But while division is easy, building consensus is hard. It takes listening. It takes empathy. And it takes diplomacy. That is exactly what Model United Nations teaches us.
As delegates, you are tasked with representing countries and perspectives not your own, crafting solutions through negotiation and collaboration. As chairs, you will guide committees through conflict and compromise. And as Secretariat, it is our job to create the space where all of this becomes possible.
But CologneMUN is not just about policy—it is also about people. Through our socials, you will get to know not just the politics of each other’s positions, but the personalities behind them. Whether it’s dancing at our Gala, sharing stories over a drink, or discovering Cologne’s cultural heart, we hope you’ll create bonds that last long after the final resolution is passed.
We are also proud to continue our commitment to sustainability. From low-impact materials to offsetting emissions, we are striving to make CologneMUN not only meaningful but mindful of our planet.
Ultimately, this conference is proof of what happens when young people believe in an idea—and work together to bring it to life. You are now part of that story. And whether this is your first or fifteenth MUN, we hope CologneMUN will inspire you to speak boldly, think critically, and always search for common ground—even when it seems far away.
On behalf of the entire Secretariat: Welcome to Cologne. Welcome to CologneMUN 2025.
Warm regards,
Patrycja Talar
Secretary-General of CologneMUN 2025
and the Secretariat of CologneMUN 2025
Cologne Model United Nations 