CEELBAS held its Launch Conference:"East European Area Studies: Setting the Research Agenda" on 19th-20th April 2007 at UCL. The aim of the conference was not only to highlight the research themes which would inform the activities of the Centre, but also to initiate a dialogue with the broader user community. Given its remit, the conference addressed the interests of the corporate, diplomatic, NGO as well as academic communities. Speakers were drawn from across the universities represented in the Centre and included the participation of guest speakers and policy makers.

The opening address was made by The Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP and panels were held on the themes of: International Relations and Energy Politics, Challenges of Statehood and the Quality of Democracy in Post-Communist Countries, Health and Welfare of the Elderly in Eastern Europe, Emerging Patterns of Social Inequality, Cities and the Urban Experience, Globalisation and the Study of Culture and Migration and Diasporic Citizenship. On the first evening, a Conference Reception was held in the South Cloisters of the UCL Main Quad. Further information can be accessed by following the links below.

• CEELBAS Launch Conference programme
• Conference speaker presentations
• Further photographs of the event