On November 6-7, an international seminar “Russia’s Influence in the Baltic Sea Region National and Institutional experiences countering hybrid threats” was held in Vilnius. The seminar was organized by the European Center for Excellence for Counter-Hybrid Threats in co-operation with the Eastern Europe Studies Center (EESC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

During the seminar, the existing hybrid, information, military and other threats to Lithuania and other regions were reviewed, the role of the European Union and NATO in the context of these threats were also discussed, recommendations were made on how to avoid these threats in the future.

The seminar was opened by Ambassador Eitvydas Bajarūnas, also welcoming remarks were made by Darius Skusevičius, Vice-minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Lithuania), Matti Saarelainen, Director of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Finland) and Greg Treverton, Chair of the Seminar, Former Chair of National Intelligence Council (US). EESC Acting Director Dovilė Šukytė and EESC Deputy Director Vytautas Keršanskas also e attended the seminar.

The seminar consisted of four parts: I. Institutional Responses to Russian Influence in the Baltic Sea Region II. UK and U.S. Experiences in Countering Russian Influence III. “Russian Influence in the Baltic States”. An academic perspective IV. “Russian Influence in the Baltic States”. A practitioner perspective.