On the 31st of October, after the official opening of the Democracy Study Centre, two discussion groups were organised between our fellows and European politicians.

In the first discussion group participants were: Prof. Stanislawa Golinowska, Jagiellonian University, Prof.  Marie Bountrogianni, Ryerson University, Toronto, Prince Stefan of Liechtenstein, Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Germany.

This group discussed the problems of civil society, improvement of life conditions for disabled people, creation of possibilities for a better efficient working of NGOs in the EaP countries. Our foreign guests shared theirs experience with the DSC participants. It helped our fellows to understand directions of development in EaP countries.

The participants of the second discussion group were Wolfgang F. Danspeckgruber, Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University, Ivan Vejvoda, German Marshall Fund of the United States, Ivan Mikloš, National Reform Council of Ukraine, former Vice PM & Minister of Finance of Slovakia, Daniela Schwarzer, German Council on Foreign Relations, Robert W. Czajkowski, Director, Head of the Frankfurt Branch at M. M. Warburg & CO.

They discussed EU integration of Ukraine and the effectiveness of implementing reforms. During the discussion, our guests emphasised the necessity of implementing economic reforms and overcoming of the economic crisis in Ukraine. Also, they explained the importance of elimination of corruption.

Both for the guests and fellows, it was an interesting and informative discussion. The Democracy Study Centre is planning to organise more such discussions in the future.