On 27 February 2008, the PASOS Board of Directors approved two new Members of PASOS (Policy Association for an Open Society), Expert-Grup, Moldova, and the Research Centre of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association. Together with the approval on 2 November 2007 by the PASOS Board of the Social Policy and Development Center, Armenia, the PASOS network now comprises 36 independent think-tanks (30 Members and six Associate Members) spanning 22 countries in Europe and Central Asia.
Expert-Grup, Moldova
Expert-Grup is an independent think-tank specialised in research, consulting and training in the area of social and economic policies. The mission of the Expert-Grup is to contribute to the economic, political and social development of the Republic of Moldova as well as to support consolidation of its international competitiveness.
Expert-Grup possesses knowledge and extensive experience in the following areas: Development strategies; Macroeconomics and economic systems; Global economy and international economic relations; Economy of the European integration; Monetary and fiscal policies; Labour economy, management and business culture; Consumer behaviour; Industrial economics; Economy of health and education.
For further information, see
www.expert-grup.org
Research Centre of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association, Slovakia
The Research Centre of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (RC SFPA) is a non-profit organisation, and was the first organisation in Slovakia to point to the importance of finding a domestic consensus on foreign policy issues, to stress the interrelation of domestic and foreign policies and insist on a value-based, inclusive and expert approach to the key issues facing Slovak politics. RC SFPA was established in 1995 as a research and policy development unit of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA). SFPA itself was founded in August 1993 as an open discussion forum on international affairs and the Slovak foreign policy. In 2003, RC SFPA was established as an independent think-tank.
RC SFPA's activities can broadly be summarised as research, debate and publishing. RC SFPA's periodical publications consist of Zahraničná politika (bimonthly topical publication on key issues facing Slovakia's foreign policy), International Issues (quarterly comprising academic articles and policy briefs) and Yearbook of Slovak Foreign Policy (annual publication). RC SFPA's programmes comprise: European Studies; International Security; Central and Southeastern Europe; Eastern Europe; Economic Policy and Development Aid.
For further information, see
www.sfpa.sk
Social Policy and Development Center, Armenia
The Social Policy and Development Center (SPDC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, established in 2004. SPDC promotes social policy that creates new and better ways to meet needs, solve problems and build better communities, with particular attention to the three core issues of poverty reduction, fighting corruption and social integration.
SPDC's work covers a broad range of social policy and development areas, including health, education, social services, and employment services. SPDC also seeks to inform social policy experts and policymakers in other countries on issues and developments in Armenian social policy. Seeking a balance between short-term and long-term studies, national and local issues, and applied and theoretical work, SPDC monitors national social policy and assesses its implications at the national and local levels.
For further information, see
www.cspda.org
