Second EISC Cycle of Lectures in Moldovan Province 

On 25-28 October 2009 the Moldovan-Lithuanian Foundation „European Integration Studies Centre” organised and conducted a series of public lectures on european integration experience gained by Lithuania during the accession periode and its membership of the EU. During the mission Lithuanian experts met the Chairman of the Parliament’s Foreign Policy and European Integration Committee, Igor Corman, and other MPs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Iurie Leanca, the Deputy Minister Natalia Gherman; the Governor of Gagauzia Mihail Formuzal, the First Deputy Governor of Gagauzia Valerii Yanioglo, other officials and analysts. This gave Lithuanian experts a better understanding of Moldova and its realities, as well as to have a formal and informal sharing of negotiations experience with the EU. 

The presentations were given in 4 different cities (Chisinau, Balti, Cahul, Comrat) to different audience by: 

- Petras Auštrevičius, MP, former Chief Negotiator, “Lithuania‘s experience in negotiations with the EU and recommendations for the new government of Moldova“; 

- Klaudijus Maniokas, ESTEP Consulting, former Deputy Chief Negotiator, “Challenges and opportunities of integration into the EU: passing Lithuania‘s European integration experience to Moldova ”; 

- Lauras Bielinis, Professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, former adviser to the President of Lithuania, „Directions of information (media) influences in Lithuania and Moldova“.

Different target groups were addressed in each of the four cities. In Balti and Comrat each session was attended by more than 40 participants: local politicians, mayors, representatives of local NGOs, students, journalists and high ranking local officials. Two different audiences gathered to listen to the lectures in Cahul at the State University of Cahul (120 students) and in the Cahul Rayon Council (20 participants) for local officials, mayors, representatives of local NGOs and journalists. The regional seminars were organized with the assistance of regional Pro-Europa Infocenters in Balti, Cahul and Comrat. 

A special course on management of the EU accession negotiations was warmly hosted in the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration for more than 60 diplomats and other officials and was supported by the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova.

All these lectures had a great success. This transfer of knowledge should continue and should go deeper into sectoral trainings and consulting. The project is being financed by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assisted by the Lithuanian Embassy in Moldova.