The meeting was part of a project lead by EAPN Lithuania member NGO Information and Support Centre CSO empowerment and cooperation in developing sustainable social policy in Belarus, funded by European Commission and co-funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. The Belarusian organisations presented studies they carried out under similar projects, aiming at introducing the social reality and civil society initiatives in Belarus, including: The Quality and Way of life in Belarus: evolution and possibilities of transformation as well as Communities’ Building and Development.
Tanya Basarab, EAPN Development Officer presented the work of EAPN and discussed with the guests the constraints of civil-society organisations in Belarus, the mechanisms of cooperation under European Neighbourhood Policy and networking in Eastern Europe as well as with organisations from the EU member States. EAPN will support any initiative leading to establishment of anti-poverty networks in Belarus or other countries in the region, through lobby work at the EU level as well as through direct action of its member Networks and European Organisations active in these countries.