Belarus

Encourage active engagement of youth in the labor markets and social economy of Eastern Partnership countries, contribute to promoting sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and reducing societal inequality.

To strengthen resistance to disinformation and strategic communication capabilities, consolidating the dissemination of independent information in the EU's Eastern Partnership countries.

Encourage active engagement of youth in the labor markets and social economy of Eastern Partnership countries, contribute to promoting sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and reducing societal inequality.

To strengthen resistance to disinformation and strategic communication capabilities, consolidating the dissemination of independent information in the EU's Eastern Partnership countries.

To promote, highlight, and support independent Belarusian cinema and the film industry locally and globally as a significant contribution to rethinking and preserving contemporary Belarusian national identity.

Encourage active engagement of youth in the labor markets and social economy of Eastern Partnership countries, contribute to promoting sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and reducing societal inequality.

To join efforts of researchers from Belarus and Lithuania to evaluate the most prevalent historical narratives in society, which are disseminated through the media and social networks.

• 10 articles for a collective monograph prepared;
• 15 articles for the media, 3 scientific articles prepared;
• 3 debates organised

To strengthen resistance to disinformation and strategic communication capabilities, consolidating the dissemination of independent information in the EU's Eastern Partnership countries.

To give the members of Belarus' intellectual and cultural elite the freedom to do research in the fields of humanities and social sciences, to promote global civic engagement through cultural exchange, and to establish informal networks.

• 1-3 October 2021 The International Congress of Gudija Researchers was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, on 20/20/2020, with about 170 live and 212 virtual participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Poland, Great Britain and other countries.
• In September 2021, a call for Research Fellowships was launched (https://www.ldki.lt/2021-09-22-1/), for which 58 applications were submitted and 5 fellows were selected. The scientific publications prepared by the 2022 fellows are expected to be published in 2023 in the following journals: "Review of Institute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania", "Homo Historicus", "Political Sphere", "Belarus і Svet" etc.
• In May 2022, 6 discussions were organised remotely.
• 30 September - 2 October 2022 International Congress of Gudija Studies was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, with 311 scholars and experts participating, 102 of whom participated remotely. The International Congress of Gudija Researchers was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, with around 170 in-person and 212 virtual participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Poland, Great Britain and other countries.

To promote, highlight, and support independent Belarusian cinema and the film industry locally and globally as a significant contribution to rethinking and preserving contemporary Belarusian national identity.

Encourage active engagement of youth in the labor markets and social economy of Eastern Partnership countries, contribute to promoting sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and reducing societal inequality.

To promote European Heritage Label Programme in Belarus, to identify potential sites that could complement the European list, and to develop new strategies for its interpretation. The project creates a basis for the deeper integration of Belarus into the European cultural space and actualizes the European aspect of cultural heritage.

To join efforts of researchers from Belarus and Lithuania to evaluate the most prevalent historical narratives in society, which are disseminated through the media and social networks.

• 10 articles for a collective monograph prepared;
• 15 articles for the media, 3 scientific articles prepared;
• 3 debates organised

To encourage the collaboration of Lithuanian and Belarusian researchers and experts in the fields of social and humanitarian sciences by raising the quality of analytical content produced.

To strengthen resistance to disinformation and strategic communication capabilities, consolidating the dissemination of independent information in the EU's Eastern Partnership countries.

To give the members of Belarus' intellectual and cultural elite the freedom to do research in the fields of humanities and social sciences, to promote global civic engagement through cultural exchange, and to establish informal networks.

• 1-3 October 2021 The International Congress of Gudija Researchers was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, on 20/20/2020, with about 170 live and 212 virtual participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Poland, Great Britain and other countries.
• In September 2021, a call for Research Fellowships was launched (https://www.ldki.lt/2021-09-22-1/), for which 58 applications were submitted and 5 fellows were selected. The scientific publications prepared by the 2022 fellows are expected to be published in 2023 in the following journals: "Review of Institute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania", "Homo Historicus", "Political Sphere", "Belarus і Svet" etc.
• In May 2022, 6 discussions were organised remotely.
• 30 September - 2 October 2022 International Congress of Gudija Studies was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, with 311 scholars and experts participating, 102 of whom participated remotely. The International Congress of Gudija Researchers was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, with around 170 in-person and 212 virtual participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Poland, Great Britain and other countries.

Encourage active engagement of youth in the labor markets and social economy of Eastern Partnership countries, contribute to promoting sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and reducing societal inequality.

To contribute to the preservation and promotion of tangible and intagible heritage related to the personality of Francysk Scaryna, based on the model of the Council of Europe Cultural Rout Programme.

• Francysk Scaryna's concept of the Cultural Route, developed and tested in the case of the historic Polotsk-Vilnius route.
  Increased capacity of key social and cultural partners in Lithuania and Belarus to preserve and promote heritage on the basis of the Cultural Route concept.
• An action plan for the establishment of the Francysk Scaryna's European Route of Culture has been developed.
• The Francysk Scaryna European Cultural Route project and concept were presented to the international scientific community at the International Congress (2 October 2021, Kaunas).
• The project website http://skaryna.eu/en/ was created.

To promote European Heritage Label Programme in Belarus, to identify potential sites that could complement the European list, and to develop new strategies for its interpretation. The project creates a basis for the deeper integration of Belarus into the European cultural space and actualizes the European aspect of cultural heritage.

To join efforts of researchers from Belarus and Lithuania to evaluate the most prevalent historical narratives in society, which are disseminated through the media and social networks.

• 10 articles for a collective monograph prepared;
• 15 articles for the media, 3 scientific articles prepared;
• 3 debates organised

To encourage the collaboration of Lithuanian and Belarusian researchers and experts in the fields of social and humanitarian sciences by raising the quality of analytical content produced.

To organize an international scientific discussion in Vilnius between academics, members of civil society, and authors of the Lithuanian and Belarusian constitutions in order to identify the key components of Belarus' constitutional identity, with an emphasis on the country's legal, historical, and cultural (linguistic) aspects.

• On 11 October 2021, a hybrid international discussion between representatives of Lithuania, Belarus and Poland took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, where the main elements of Belarus' constitutional identity were discussed, focusing on legal aspects.
• A report of the discussion with its conclusions was prepared and published on the Mykolas Romeris University website: BELARUS-REPORT-OUTLINE.pdf (mruni.eu)

To promote and strengthen the awareness of Belarusian youth about environmental protection and climate change, to encourage organizations to do their daily business in an environmentally responsible way.

• The Climathon event for young people took place remotely from 9-11 June 2021. 7 teams (33 people) took part and developed innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their communities and citizens.
• Recommendations were developed for three organisations («Жилкомиздат», «Экопартнерство», Secondary School No 12 in Grodno).
• A handbook for assessing the environmental performance of organisations has been developed.
• Three newsletters were sent to more than 80 followers, published on social accounts, flyers were produced and published.
  The results of the project were presented at a summer school in Minsk (25 participants) on 23 June, 2021.

To strengthen institutional capacities of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus. To contribute to the optimization of customs and border control activities, improvement of international trade conditions and enhance cooperation between services, performing control at the border.

• During the meetings and practical trainings, Belarusian customs officers had the opportunity to get acquainted with international standards and methods for facilitating international trade, and to share the best practices of Lithuanian customs.
• A coordination mechanism between the customs and border services of both countries was set up to improve the permeability of the state border crossing points.
• The quality of customs services was improved and business and trade conditions were facilitated.
• Cooperation between Lithuanian and Belarusian customs specialists has been strengthened through the establishment of a contact network of training specialists and the promotion of the exchange of good practice between the Lithuanian Customs Training Centre and the Belarusian Customs Advanced Studies and Retraining Institute.

Capacity building and experience sharing in community-based preservation and conversion of architectural heritage for the local needs.

• At least 15 Belarusian heritage specialists and at least 5 members of the Synagogue Steering Group gained new experience in historic preservation;
• Research work at the EHU has been strengthened; 2 articles related to the heritage of synagogues have been published in the EHU Centre for Jewish Studies' scientific journal "Tsaytshrif";
• 30 Belarusian students gained experience in interdisciplinary cooperation in heritage and design studies;
• 4 Belarusian students have been awarded scholarships to carry out research work in 2021-2022;
• A plan for Belarusian-Lithuanian cooperation in the field of heritage conservation has been developed;
• A film summarising the EHU projects in the field of preservation of the heritage of synagogues in Belarus in 2018-2020 has been created.

To improve the social situation of children and youth in boarding schools, to strengthen children's resistance to the pandemic.

Embassy project

• Children from boarding schools, orphanages and poor families were taught about the importance of personal hygiene and self-protection skills in the face of pandemic outbreaks.
• Boarding schools, orphanages and families were given medical protective equipment and received training on how to use it effectively.

Project is aimed at provision of independent alternative information at charter97.org to the readers to counter Russian propaganda in Belarus and the region under the conditions of partial blocking of the website on the territory of Belarus.

• The Correspondents' Network has produced 116 publications for charter97.org in 2020: articles, commentaries, interviews, opinions from Lithuanian politicians, experts and activists.
• A total of 708 articles were produced.
• Readers were given the opportunity to exchange views and discuss the publications.
• A meeting with Lithuanian and Belarusian correspondents improved cooperation between the editorial team and the correspondents, improved the quality of the articles, and another planned meeting was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The overall objectives of the project is the establishment of a working model for cooperation in the customs area between the EU and the Republic of Belarus to facilitate the legitimate trade and minimize the supply chain risks in the international commerce.

Project duration: 24 months + 3 months

• Support to SCC for the preparation project Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Belarus in the Customs Sector;
• Identification of the legislation gaps between the Eurasian and European Customs Code as baseline for information exchange;
• Improvement of the customs business processes and internal organization capacity;
• Identification of the sources (IT Systems) and methods to facilitate the information exchange;
• Improvements in the vocational training and re-training capabilities;
• Capacity improvement through better utilization of the customs infrastructure at the BCP’s to facilitate the trade and minimize the security risks;
• Elaboration of the “best practise” to establish institutional channels for dialogue with the business partners (freight forwarders, customs brokers, agents, import and export companies, logistics service providers, etc.).

Strengthening the capacity of the national statistical system of the Republic of Belarus in terms of production and dissemination of high-quality and internationally comparable statistical data to increase the efficiency of policy decision-making.

Project duration: 21 months + 3 months

• Creation of an information resource in the form of a database of administrative data and the development of quality assessment tools for such data based on EU statistical standards and best European practices;
• Improvemnt of the quality of the national environmental-economic accounting system;
• Faciliation of the process of introduction of the SDMX standard for data and metadata dissemination and exchange;
• Improvement of the standard microdata dissemination procedure.

To promote and strengthen the awareness of Belarusian youth about environmental protection and climate change, to encourage organizations to do their daily business in an environmentally responsible way.

• The Climathon event for young people took place remotely from 9-11 June 2021. 7 teams (33 people) took part and developed innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their communities and citizens.
• Recommendations were developed for three organisations («Жилкомиздат», «Экопартнерство», Secondary School No 12 in Grodno).
• A handbook for assessing the environmental performance of organisations has been developed.
• Three newsletters were sent to more than 80 followers, published on social accounts, flyers were produced and published.
  The results of the project were presented at a summer school in Minsk (25 participants) on 23 June, 2021.

To strengthen institutional capacities of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus. To contribute to the optimization of customs and border control activities, improvement of international trade conditions and enhance cooperation between services, performing control at the border.

• During the meetings and practical trainings, Belarusian customs officers had the opportunity to get acquainted with international standards and methods for facilitating international trade, and to share the best practices of Lithuanian customs.
• A coordination mechanism between the customs and border services of both countries was set up to improve the permeability of the state border crossing points.
• The quality of customs services was improved and business and trade conditions were facilitated.
• Cooperation between Lithuanian and Belarusian customs specialists has been strengthened through the establishment of a contact network of training specialists and the promotion of the exchange of good practice between the Lithuanian Customs Training Centre and the Belarusian Customs Advanced Studies and Retraining Institute.

Gender equality, support to Belarusian civil society, women empowerment.

Embassy project

Transfer of good practices and designing of food rescue systems in Belarus.

Embassy project

To reduce social exclusion and draw public attention to the situation and rights of disabled people in Belarus.

Embassy project

To bring to Belarus the experience of Lithuania in community-based preservation and conversion of architectural heritage for the needs of locals and city promotion.

Informed and engaged young Belarusians participate in new types of business, public and social activities that will benefit the Belarusian society.

Give knowledge for deaf and hearing impaired youth from Belarus about entrepreneurship opportunities, business development, promote social activity and apply skills in future.

Project is aimed at provision of independent alternative information at charter97.org to the readers to counter Russian propaganda in Belarus and the region under the conditions of partial blocking of the website on the territory of Belarus.

• The Correspondents' Network has produced 116 publications for charter97.org in 2020: articles, commentaries, interviews, opinions from Lithuanian politicians, experts and activists.
• A total of 708 articles were produced.
• Readers were given the opportunity to exchange views and discuss the publications.
• A meeting with Lithuanian and Belarusian correspondents improved cooperation between the editorial team and the correspondents, improved the quality of the articles, and another planned meeting was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Transfer of experience of Lithuanian historians and musicologists, joint research of historical past.

Embassy project

To strengthen the capacities of the State Border Committee of Belarus to implement a modern, effective and efficient integrated border management (IBM) system in alignment with the EU acquis and EU standards and best practices developed based on lessons learned.

Project duration: 24 months

The EU Twinning Project oriented to help study the legal and institutional environment to secure financial stability in Belarus and develop recommendations on its improvement in the light of the best international practices (responsibility, division of powers, regulatory activity). The project also envisages improvements to the report on financial stability, including the regulation of its preparatory process, the development of a reference guide for internal use on financial stability monitoring, strengthening of the personnel potential through trainings on the use of the improved macroprudential supervision system.

Project duration: 18 months + 3 months.

To strengthen Belarusian civil society and independent media through the online portal Charter’97.

• Articles were prepared and published on the situation in Belarus and the region, as well as on Lithuania's development cooperation.
• Monitoring of Lithuanian press was conducted—articles from other portals were translated and published on the portal in Belarusian, Russian, and English.
• A high number of portal visitors was maintained.

To expand development cooperation by encouraging the interest and capabilities of Lithuanian institutions, non-governmental organizations, and businesses to participate in international development cooperation programs. To ensure the dissemination of best practices from Lithuania's participation in international development cooperation programs.

• The dissemination of best practices increased the motivation and active participation of representatives from the public, non-governmental, and private sectors in projects funded by the EU and international organizations.
• Strengthened the participation of Lithuanian representatives in development cooperation projects by providing support at the highest level.
• Successful projects implemented by Lithuanian institutions and companies were presented to representatives of partner country institutions and donors, sharing best practices and expanding various forms of international cooperation between Lithuania and other countries.
• Increased dissemination of information about Lithuania's capabilities in providing development cooperation assistance in partner countries enhanced Lithuania's reputation as a reliable donor in recipient countries, within the EU, and internationally. The attractiveness of proposals submitted by Lithuanian representatives for development cooperation projects is expected to increase.
• The implementation plan for recommendations on more favorable legal regulation laid the groundwork for removing obstacles to more active participation in development cooperation programs in the future.

Continue the activities of the innovative international website "Women in Democracy".

• Ensured continuous support and technical maintenance of the international website www.womenindemocracy.org, which presents and promotes gender equality in the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus region, and Central Asia.
• Performed daily news monitoring and selection for the website sections "News," "Opinion," and "Facebook"; periodically updated the sections "Politics," "Governance and Economy," "Violence against Women," and "International Organizations" with relevant information, and uploaded visual materials.
• Prepared and posted four original interviews with women leaders from the region (posted in the section "Interviews with Leaders").
• Written six informational and analytical articles.
• Strengthened Lithuania's role as a coordinator of gender equality in the region (Eastern Europe, the Caucasus region, Central Asia).
• Through its activities, the website discredits anti-democratic propaganda and disinformation in the region.

To strengthen civil society and independent media in Belarus through the website www.charter97.org.

• Established a network of professional correspondents.
• Published 76 articles by professional journalists (planned 100).
• Monitored press in Lithuania, translating and publishing 160 articles (planned 160) in Belarusian, Russian, and English over the 5 months of the project.
• Published an article about the "Twin" projects.
• Maintained a high number of portal visitors (more than 300,000 unique visitors per day).

To promote scientific and cultural collaboration among scholars from Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine on the topic of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (LDK).

• Preparatory work completed for a book on the Višnioveckis family—three scientific research expeditions were carried out in Belarus (visiting 7 locations), Poland (visiting 7 locations), and Ukraine (visiting 10 locations). During these expeditions, heritage sites related to the Višnioveckis family were identified and documented with multi-dimensional photographs intended to illustrate the book.

To promote entrepreneurship, social, and economic activism among women in Moldova and Belarus during 2014-2015.

• 21 project participants from Belarus were activated and empowered to develop their businesses and organizations.
• 18 women from Maladzechna and Zaslavl who adopted the Success Team method will be able to disseminate this method to other regions of Belarus.
• Support from government institutions in Belarus was secured through meetings with Belarusian authorities to promote women’s entrepreneurship.
• A Belarus-Lithuania-Moldova women's network was established, comprising 12 Moldovan, 9 Belarusian, 10 Lithuanian, and 10 other EU organizations.
• 42 organizations from Lithuania, Moldova, and Belarus signed a memorandum of intent to collaborate.
• The project was covered in local press, and in Belarus, Moldova, and internationally on the “Going Abroad” and Winnet BSR websites.

To present and promote gender equality in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus region, and Central Asia through the international website www.womenindemocracy.org.

• Ensured continuous content maintenance and technical support of the website, with updated sections. A new section, "Interviews with Women Leaders," and additional topical sections (Politics; Governance and Economy; Violence against Women; International Organizations) were created.
• Daily news monitoring and selection were performed. News was posted in the website's sections "News," "Opinion," and "Facebook," along with visual materials.
• Prepared and posted 12 original interviews with women leaders from the region on the website.
• Wrote 12 informational and analytical texts.
• Strengthened Lithuania's role as a coordinator of gender equality in the region (Eastern Europe, the Caucasus region, Central Asia).
• The information and news provided on the website regarding gender equality issues are regularly read by 526 individuals from all world regions.

To promote entrepreneurship and increase social and economic activity among women in Moldova and Belarus.

• 32 women from Moldova, 7 from Belarus, and 12 from Lithuania were empowered and motivated to develop their businesses and organizations.
• A women's network was established to foster business contacts and new cooperation initiatives.
• Women who mastered the Success Teams method can now spread this approach to other regions in Moldova and Belarus.
• Training in Taraclia inspired participants to form an active women's club in Taraclia district, now with 20 members ready to join Success Teams.
• The project was covered by local media ("Plungės žinios") and internationally on the "Going Abroad" website (8 articles).

To promote cooperation among regional scholars in researching and popularizing the history and heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL).

• Based on the collaboration of scholars from Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine, a richly illustrated publication about the Dukes Ostrogski and the Battle of Orsha was created and published. This contributes to the promotion of the shared historical and cultural heritage of the entire GDL region within society and the formation of a European identity.

To motivate and prepare young leaders from Eastern Partnership countries for professional political careers and to strengthen the existing network of young leaders.

• 62 young leaders from Eastern Partnership countries acquired the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for a successful political career; 15 organizations joined the young leaders' network.

To promote equal civil and political participation of women in Belarus and Ukraine and to enhance their leadership competencies.

• Organization of the forum "Tools and Tactics for Communicating Your Position" in Vilnius.
• Preparation of reviews on factors that hinder and promote more active participation of young women in civil and political life.
• Based on the reviews, a publication was issued, and a short film was created.

To continue supporting and developing the international website www.womenindemocracy.org, which promotes and presents gender equality in the Community of Democracies and other countries (especially in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus region, and Central Asia) since 2012.

• Daily monitoring of news and information databases regarding women's status and gender equality issues was conducted.
• Contacts were established with target NGOs from 15 countries in the region, and an analysis of national government documents, legal materials, and ongoing gender equality initiatives was performed.
• Materials were prepared and published on the website to familiarize the Lithuanian public with gender equality implementation initiatives in the region.
• A multi-day online forum on relevant equal opportunities issues was organized. The main result was an effectively functioning website.

To continue activities related to youth initiated during Lithuania's chairmanship of the Community of Democracies (CoD) in 2010-11 and to strengthen the CoD dimension.

• The second international leaders academy "Democratic Development in the European Eastern Partnership Countries: Challenges and Opportunities" was organized in Vilnius. Approximately 50 participants, including political scientists, youth, NGO representatives, and human rights defenders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, USA, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Hungary, and Germany, discussed with Lithuanian politicians the various democratic transformations, achievements, and challenges in the Eastern European region.

To strengthen civil society in Eastern Partnership countries in the context of Lithuania's presidency of the EU Council.

• From November 27-29, 2013, a conference for the civil society of Eastern Partnership countries was organized in Vilnius. The conference served as a platform for in-depth discussion on how to more effectively support the development of civil society in Eastern Partnership countries and to enhance its capacity to participate in the decision-making process. The dialogue between experts and civil society representatives from Eastern Partnership and EU member states proved to be particularly successful.
• Target groups of the conference included participants of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, representatives of local and international NGOs, political foundations, organizations, think tanks working in Eastern Partnership countries, representatives of the European Commission, and the largest international development cooperation agencies working in the region.
• The conference was attended by 378 participants and 211 media representatives. Approximately 7000 viewers from various countries watched the live broadcast.

To create a forum addressing current issues related to women's rights (featuring useful documents and examples of best practices), fostering thematic discussions, and supporting the implementation of gender equality in the region and other Community of Democracies countries.

• An online website http://www.womenindemocracy.org/ was created to meet the project's objectives.
• The content is continuously updated.
• Ongoing collaboration with NGOs in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus region, and Central Asian countries.

To enhance the professional competencies of young representatives of independent media from Belarus, Ukraine, and Lithuania in promoting democratic values in public information, with consideration of gender equality.

• Young representatives of independent media from Belarus, Ukraine, and Lithuania enhanced their professional competencies in promoting democratic values in public information. They prepared photo reports (photographs) on socially sensitive topics, emphasizing gender aspects, respect for diversity, and issues of democracy.
• An exhibition of selected photo works was organized in all three countries.

To support and continue the preparation, research, and publication of the books of the Lithuanian Metrica (preparation and publication of books No. 18 and 32) in Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine through the collaboration of scholars from the three countries.

• The 32nd book of the Lithuanian Metrica was prepared and published.
• The 18th book of the Lithuanian Metrica was prepared for publication.
• Articles for the future informational publication "The Lithuanian Metrica: A Shared Past – A Shared Present" were created in Lithuanian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian.

To continue the collaboration among scientists from Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine in preparing the Encyclopedia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for the 2007-2012 period.

• Written 60 new articles.
• Revised, supplemented, and scientifically edited the articles for volumes I, II, and III.

To promote the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) in Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine.

• Published the book "2000 km of History", documenting a historical journey undertaken in the autumn of 2010 with Žemaitukai horses to the Black Sea. The book captures historical sites and the riders' journey along the routes of Duke Vytautas the Great.

To develop connections and cultural understanding between citizens of Lithuania, Belarus, and other countries by presenting the traditional lifestyles, crafts, cuisine, and customs of various nations.

• Organized a fair where representatives from Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, and other countries showcased their cultures and cuisine.

To promote the diaspora of Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine by sharing the experiences of Lithuanian communities in Western Europe, particularly youth leaders in Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the UK, in creating a network of cooperation and thus contributing to the development of civil society and the dissemination of democratic values in their countries of origin.

• Organized a youth discussion and conference in Germany titled "Democracy and Diaspora," and held joint cultural events. The materials from the scientific conference were published.
• Created a website – forum demodiaspora.net – for sharing experiences through electronic means.

To develop collaboration among scholars from the region's countries and thus contribute to the promotion of the shared historical and cultural heritage of the entire GDL region.

• Prepared and published in Ukrainian the book "Chotyn: The Frontier of Nations."

To contribute to the creation of a common historical awareness in the Eastern European region and to find common points of contact in evaluating the same historical events.

• Approximately 30 representatives from Belarusian and Ukrainian municipalities, universities, museums, religious institutions, and tourism organizations participated in an informational visit to Lithuania.
• A roundtable discussion was held in the Seimas.
• Project participants were introduced to Lithuanian history, culture, ethnography, cross-border cooperation and tourism development opportunities, and the activities of youth and NGOs.

To reveal the dynamics of historical heritage division in Central and Eastern Europe through the changing interpretations of the Battle of Grunwald over time; to enhance understanding of interpretations established in other countries; to mitigate the sharpness of historical heritage divisions while increasing mutual trust within the region.

• A preliminary study was prepared, presenting key trends in the historical memory of the Battle of Grunwald, with selected illustrations. The project demonstrates the necessity of analyzing historical memory research not only within a single historical culture but also by including the entire Eastern European region.

To develop cooperation among scientists from the region (Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine) in researching and promoting the history and heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, to foster historical awareness among scientists and cultural figures, and to encourage cultural exchanges between Lithuania and neighboring countries.

• In collaboration with Ukrainian and Belarusian scientists, a new academic/informative book, "Grunwald: Perspectives of Three Nations of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania," was prepared and published in Ukrainian (published by Baltia-Druk, Kyiv).
• The latest textual and visual materials on the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were collected and made publicly available on the website www.mdl.lt.

Part of the 2007-2012 program. To prepare a four-volume encyclopedia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL), collaborating with over 100 historians from countries with GDL heritage (Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine) and other countries (Germany, England, Italy, Russia), creating a cohesive and comprehensive history of the GDL, integrating its heritage across different political and cultural regions.

• Scientific articles for the second volume of the encyclopedia were written (letters A to N, by approximately 20 authors, covering about 48 articles).
• Scientific articles for the third volume of the encyclopedia were written (letters O to Ž, by over 40 authors, covering about 100 articles).
• Scientific reviews of the articles were prepared.
• The project was presented at the International Lithuanian Studies Conference in Warsaw and at the international conference dedicated to the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald in Vilnius.

To investigate the traces of the historical heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) in Belarus.

• Photographed historical heritage sites related to the life of Adam Mickiewicz in Belarus and Lithuania.
• Prepared and opened an exhibition of artistic photographs at Trakai Castle.

To introduce the societies of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia to Lithuanian history and culture, and to present the millennium anniversary of the name of Lithuania in Minsk, Kyiv, Lida, and Saint Petersburg.

• Prepared a traveling exhibition "Lithuania: Culture and History" in Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Russian languages, which was displayed at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Minsk, the National Museum "Saint Sophia of Kyiv" in Kyiv, and the National History and Art Museum of Lida.

To encourage collaboration between Belarusian and Ukrainian scientists in researching and promoting the history and heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL).

• Developed the schematic structure and concept of the book/album "The Radziwiłłs in Ukraine."
• Organized expeditions to local history museums in Ukraine (Volhynia, Korets, Kovel, Manevychi, Liuboml, Radyvyliv, Mlyniv, Olyka) and photographed exhibits from the museum collections (1,214 items photographed).
• Prepared an informational catalog "Documentary Heritage of the GDL in Lviv," published on www.mdl.lt.

Research and preservation of Jewish cultural heritage in Belarus.

• The condition of synagogues was investigated, and a documentation file and description of the research materials were prepared.
• The exhibition "Sound of Silence" was displayed at the international conference "Holocaust Era Assets."

To encourage Belarusian and Ukrainian scholars to actively contribute to the presentation of a unique collection of historical sources to the academic community and the general public.

• Prepared for publication a collection of historical sources: the Lithuanian Metrica, book No. 22 (1547), consisting of 112 manuscript pages.
• Prepared for publication part of a collection of historical sources: the Lithuanian Metrica, book No. 276 (1584–1598).

To prepare a four-volume encyclopedia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) aimed at transcending national historiographical boundaries.

• In the third phase, editing of the articles for the second volume of the GDL encyclopedia (63 articles) was completed, and contracts were signed with 40 historians from Lithuania, Poland, and Belarus for the preparation of articles.
• Contracts were signed with historians preparing the index and texts for the third volume (20 historians for 67 articles).
• A list of illustrations for the encyclopedia was prepared.

To commemorate the Congress of Lutsk held in 1429 and organize a journey along the route of Vytautas the Great to Lutsk.

• About 100 project participants traveled the route Vilnius-Lutsk (through Belarus: Pruzhany, Nesvizh, Navahrudak, Lida, Grodno).
• In Lutsk, a historical conference on the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Vytautas the Great was held, featuring performances by project participants, including the Vilnius Seniors Theatre, the "Vilnelė" folklore ensemble from the Vilnius Garrison Officers' Club, and students from the Vilnius Francis Skaryna Belarusian Secondary School.
• A protocol of intent for cooperation was signed between the Trakai District Municipality and Lutsk.
• The project was presented on the website www.internetinetv.lt.

To strengthen the cooperation between Belarusian and Ukrainian scholars, present the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and promote cultural exchanges and the formation of an open European regional identity.

• A DVD featuring a gallery of portraits of nobility from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was released.
• The website www.mdl.lt was created.
• An informational album titled "Heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Ukraine: Castles, Temples, Residences" and a book titled "History and Tradition of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania" were prepared.

To present the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

• Conducted research and searches for portraits of nobles from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the collections and exhibitions of museums in Lviv, Bolekhiv, Ternopil, and other cities in Western Ukraine.
• Collected portraits for multiple exhibitions in various institutions in Lithuania and abroad.

To share the latest scientific expertise in the field of Earth's fields and their impact on organisms with scientists from various countries; to establish collaborative relationships between scientific organizations.

• Closer collaborative relationships were established with scientists from Belarus and Ukraine during the conference "Earth's Fields and Their Impact on Organisms," held in Druskininkai from June 12-15. The conference was attended by about 100 specialists from 10 countries, featuring 36 scientific presentations. A collection of seminar abstracts, comprising 248 pages and 70 copies, was published and distributed to the seminar participants.

To strengthen cooperation among students and lecturers from Lithuania, Belarus, and the Kaliningrad region, and to research the cultural heritage of the Litvaks.

• Joint expeditions of students and their supervisors were conducted to study synagogues.
• Collaborative relationships were established between higher education institutions and cultural organizations to further research the cultural heritage of the Litvaks.

To present the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

• Based on the results of the project component "Belarusian Collections: Paintings and Sculptures," which were collected from museums and archives in Belarus, an exhibition of portraits of nobles and other historical figures from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania has been prepared. This exhibition is suitable for display both in Lithuania and in foreign countries.

To overcome the boundaries of national historiographies and offer a broader panorama of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). The encyclopedia aims to cover the entire territory of the GDL and adequately reflect different historiographical approaches, presenting the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

• A four-volume encyclopedia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is being prepared, with the illustration concept developed and illustrations collected.
• The project involves historians united by the legacy of the GDL from Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine, as well as scholars from other countries.

To inform the societies of Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine about their shared heritage by preparing a historical calendar of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (16th-18th centuries). This calendar, a 350-380 page book, will describe significant dates, figures, and events in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, include maps showing the changing borders of the state, and feature historical iconography.

• In the second phase, a contract was signed with the project leader, Associate Professor Dr. Aivas Ragauskas, who continued systematic scientific informational research by refining calendar entries and reviewing the database of entries.
• Structural principles for the calendar entries were established based on the subject matter—event, person, institution, or other historical occurrences—and descriptive texts for the calendar entries were written.
• Scientific text reviews were prepared.
• The design and layout of the electronic version of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania calendar guide were developed.
• The calendar of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was translated into Russian.
• The guide to the calendar was translated into Belarusian.

To inform officials from Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia about the facilitation of international trade.

• A regional seminar was held in Vilnius, attended by representatives from 22 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

To promote the formation of an open society by sharing creative ideas within the region.

• A program was prepared and presented at S. Daukanto Square on July 5th, featuring poets and musicians from Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, and Poland.

To contribute to the creation of a united European idea.

• Developed the concept, structure, and author guidelines for the publication of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (LDK) encyclopedia.
• Compiled a list of entries and designated authors for the articles.
• Prepared and commissioned 313 articles.
• Began editing work and nearly completed the list for the second volume.
• The purpose of the publication is to help preserve the region's shared historical heritage and memory by restoring and strengthening scientific and social connections, thus raising public awareness.

To contribute to the formation of an open democratic society.

• Brought together Ukrainian and Belarusian artists in a workshop to establish connections with each other and with Lithuanian colleagues.
• Created works on historical themes.

To support small projects in the areas of human rights advocacy and democracy.

• Eight seminars and roundtable discussions were organized on human rights issues with the general public, NGOs, students, school pupils, teachers, and journalists in Vilnius, Chișinău, and Tbilisi.

To nurture historical memory.

• Created an interactive website that serves as a database for researchers and their projects related to the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (LDK).