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On 27 October Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs  Žygimantas Pavilionis took part in the opening of the Eastern Europe Studies Centre (EESC) in Vilnius.

“The Eastern Europe Studies Centre is an excellent example of cooperation among the European Union, Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and academic community. It shows that we can gather partners for implementation of common policy towards the East,” Undersecretary of Lithuanian Foreign Ministry Pavilionis noted.

EESC is a non-profit non-governmental organization established by the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University and Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The main goals of the organization include observation of the democratic development in the Eastern Europe (in Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Southern Caucasus), analysis of political, economic and social processes in these regions, and support for democratic civic initiatives in Belarus, as well as assistance for activities of Belarusian non-governmental organizations, strengthening of independent mass media, promotion of dialogue and communication among political, economic and academic elites interested in the growth of democracy in the Eastern Europe.

According to the Director of the Centre Kristina Vaičiūnaitė, the vision of the Centre is to become the strongest centre of analysis and intensive training of the Eastern Europe region, that carries out surveys of Belarusian internal and foreign policy, encourages involvement of Belarusian society into European integration processes, promotes cooperation and dialogue among social groups of the Baltic Sea States and Belarus.  

The Centre is founded in the framework of the project “Strengthening of the cross border cooperation among the Baltic Sea Region NGO’s: establishment of the Eastern Europe Studies Centre”, witch was financed by PHARE 2003 Cross Border Cooperation Programme in the Baltic Sea Region.