Chairman: The Rt Hon Giles Radice MP
Director: Sir John Birch
Site
last update 27th October 2000
The
Origins
and Aims
of BACEE
The aim of the Association is to promote a
closer understanding between the British people and the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe and to support the institutions of a civil society.
Set up in 1967 as the Great Britain/East
Europe Centre, it adopted its present title in 1992. Since its beginnings it has
sought to forge links and to create opportunities for genuine dialogue with
people in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia (as it was then), Hungary and Romania. The
Association has now expanded its activities to include Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia,
Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The original organisation was created by a
small group of British people from Parliament, the Press, industry, the trade
unions, and the academic world. Their purpose was a simple one: they wished to
translate into action their common belief that, despite the sharp differences
between Western Europe and the political system then dominating Eastern Europe,
the peoples of both halves of the continent shared a common European destiny.
Since 1989 - and even before that - it has been seeking to encourage and assist
the transformation of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe into free and
democratic societies with market-based economies.
The Association does not do any commercial
work or trade promotion and is not able to offer advice on these subjects.
The
Work
of The Association
Seminars, Conferences and Round
Tables
The Association organises seminars, both in
Britain and abroad, designed to promote the development of a civil society with
democratic institutions. In recent years seminars have covered Parliament,
elections, the judicial system, the media, banking, public administration, local
government, penal reform, the voluntary sector and non-governmental
organisations. The lecturers and discussion group leaders are all experts in
their fields and there is a strong emphasis on visits and practical work,
including attachments. Most seminars last a week and are limited to 12
participants from the same country. Participants are drawn from leading
practitioners in their own countries and are given the opportunity to share the
British experience.
In addition the Association organises larger
conferences, for example on reconciliation in Bosnia, and runs the regular
British/Polish, British/Hungarian and British/Baltic States Round Tables on
behalf of the Foreign Office. It also arranges and administers the New Serbia
Forum which meets regularly in Budapest to give key participants in Serbian
civil society the opportunity to discuss the policies which will be necessary in
a future democratic Serbia.
Individual Visits
Study visits in both directions are arranged
for individuals or small groups when they can support the development of civil
society.
Scholarships and Grants
The Association has some funds to assist
individuals or groups, who have already prepared the ground well, to reach their
objective. Funds have been given, for example, to the Polish and Romanian
Theatres, young scientists, librarians and scholars. But these are small
"seed corn" awards and the Association does not finance long term
study.
Lectures
There is a monthly lecture programme, mostly
devoted to current political issues in Central and Eastern Europe.
Finance
The Association, which is an independent
organisation registered under the Companies Act, is part-financed by a
grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and by funds provided by
Parliament to transfer know-how to Central and Eastern European countries or to
fulfil the purpose of the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 on Security and
Co-operation in Europe. It seeks matching funds from grant-giving bodies to
support its projects. Subscriptions from members help to support its activities
in the United Kingdom. It has enjoyed the support of successive Secretaries of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in all British governments since
1967.
Membership
Membership of the Association is open, at the
discretion of the Governing Body and for a small annual subscription, to people
who share its aims and purposes. Corporate membership is open to firms and other
organisations. All members are invited to the monthly lectures and occasionally
to panel discussions. When receptions are held for foreign guests, members who
share a common professional interest with the visitors concerned may be invited
to meet them. Membership applications forms and rates are available from the
Association.
The
current membership rates are:
Single
£6.00
Joint:
£10.00
Students:
£3.00
Corporate
(within London): £50.00
Corporate
(outside London): £30.00
Governing
Body
and Staff
The Governing Body of 19 members includes five
Members of Parliament drawn from the major political parties, and
representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Trade
and Industry and the British Council. The other members come from industry,
business, the media and academic life.
Chairman:
The Rt Hon Giles Radice MP
Vice-Chairman and Treasurer:
John Cooper CBE
Governing
Body:
Dr
Judy Batt
Christopher
Beauman
Professor
Michael Branch
Rt
Hon David Curry MP
Nik GowingRosemary Hilhorst
Nigel Jones MP
Christopher King CBE
Keith Levinson
Anthony Loehnis CMG
Anne Lonsdale
Peter Preston
Rt Hon Baroness Rawlings
Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill
Ian Taylor MBE MP
Sir Norman Wooding CBE
Stephen Wright
The Association has a permanent staff of four:
Director - Sir John Birch
Deputy Director - Dr Joyce M.
McLellan
Projects Assistant - Ms. Adele
Pugh
Secretary - Ms. Jahanara Miah
How
TO
CONTACT
US
The
British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
10
Westminster Palace Gardens
Artillery
Row
London,
SW1P 1RL
Telephone:
+ 44 20 7976 0766
Fax:
+ 44 20 7976 8831
Email:
bacee@bacee.org.uk
Our
office is open Monday - Friday
9.30
am - 5.30 pm