Practical information
20th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies
“Stability of electoral law – practical aspects”
A word from our hosts:
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Dear Participants, It will be a great pleasure for us, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Lithuania, to welcome you to Lithuania and to its capital city, Vilnius, where the 20th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies will be held on 15 and 16 April 2025. We hope you will enjoy your stay in Vilnius and that the anniversary conference will not only be useful, but also be a good opportunity to meet and engage in lively and meaningful discussions. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU IN VILNIUS. |
Registration
NB: This Conference is intended for Chairpersons, Presidents, Directors and Heads of Electoral Management Bodies and/or their representatives. We regret that it is not open to the general public.
- Registration is now closed -
Venue of the Conference
The Conference will be held at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Gedimino av. 3, Vilnius. For more information about the venue please visit: https://www.lma.lt/about-the-academy. You can also take a virtual tour of the building.
Working languages
The Conference will be held in English and French. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during the conference.
Visas
The CEC of Lithuania cannot provide any assistance with visa applications.
For more information, please visit the website of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its visa information section, or contact the responsible authorities in your country.
Transport
Participants are responsible for covering the costs related to their participation, including travel to Vilnius, airport transfers and their hotel accommodation.
Transfers from Vilnius International Airport:
• Taxis are located in front of Vilnius International Airport arrival hall (payment by credit card or cash). The price of the trip from the airport to the hotel is approximately 12-15 EUR. For more information please visit: https://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/services-at-the-airport/taxi;
• You can use public bus routes No. 88. 88N or 3G (express) to travel between the airport and Vilnius City Centre. For the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva, please exit at the bus stop “Europos Aikštė/Europe Square”. For more information please visit: https://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/before-the-flight/transport/public-transport.
The CEC of Lithuania will provide transfers for the participants only between the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva and the Conference venue. The exact time will be provided closer to the event.
Accommodation
It is recommended that delegates stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva, Konstitucijos avenue 20, Vilnius. The four-star “Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva” is perfectly located, a short walk from all major sights for business and leisure travellers. It is a newly renovated hotel offering contemporary business-style rooms, overlooking the Old Town and business centres.
For more information please visit: https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-vilnius-lietuva.
On 14 April 2025 (19:00 to21:00) the CEC of Lithuania will host a Welcome Event, to welcome participants and allow them to become better acquainted over a welcome drink and a light snack. The Welcome event will take place at the Riverside Restaurant in the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva. You are kindly requested to confirm your participation in the event via the registration form.
As mentioned above, transportation to/from the venue will be provided only from/to the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva.
Should you wish to stay at another hotel, please note that the CEC of Lithuania will not be able to negotiate special rates or provide transportation. The following hotels are situated a short distance from the Conference venue and represent a wide price range:
- Novatel Vilnius Centre https://all.accor.com/hotel/5209/index.en.shtml
- Grand Hotel Vilnius https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/vnodeqq-grand-hotel-vilnius/
- Neringa Hotel https://neringavilnius.com/hotel/
- Amberton Cathedral Square Hotel Vilnius https://ambertonhotels.com/vilnius/
- Narutis Hotel https://narutis.com/
- Artis Centrum Hotel https://artis.centrumhotels.com/?lang=en
Cultural programme
After the end of the first day of the Conference, from 17:45 to 18:45 on 15 April 2025, the CEC of Lithuania will invite you to a guided tour of the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (Cathedral Square 4, Vilnius). As the end of the working day may vary slightly, this is a preliminary timing of the tour, but the time should not change much.
The guided tour and the Gala Dinner will be at the same venue, which is a very short distance from the venue of the Conference. The guided tour will end just before the official dinner. You are kindly asked to indicate if you wish to join the tour via the registration form, in order to allow us to ensure the quality of the tour.
Brief history of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
A fortified wooden settlement existed on the site of the Grand Dukes’ Palace from the 4th to the 8th centuries. During the 13th and 14th centuries it was converted into a well-fortified castle with brick walls. At the end of the15th and the beginning of the 16th century, the Gothic-style castle of the Middle Ages was transformed into a luxurious Renaissance-style residence. During the 17th century, the palace was reconstructed in the early Baroque style and the rulers of Lithuania and Poland, who lived there, amassed large collections of famous artworks and disseminated new cultural ideas throughout the country. The political fates of not only Lithuania but also of all Central, Eastern, and Northern European countries were decided there.
During the mid-17th century war with Moscow the palace was devastated, never rebuilt, and never again a residence for rulers. The idea that the palace could be reconstructed came alive again at the end of the 20th century with the movement for Lithuanian independence. The actual reconstruction work began in 2002 and still goes on.
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For more information please visit: https://www.valdovurumai.lt/en/.
Gala Dinner
The CEC of Lithuania will invite you to a Gala Dinner at the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Cathedral Square 4, Vilnius, from 19:00 to 22:00 on 15 April 2025. You are kindly requested to confirm your participation via the registration form.
Practical information
As mentioned, participants are required to cover their own expenses, including travel to Vilnius, transfers to the hotel and their accommodation. The CEC of Lithuania will provide refreshments and lunch during the Conference, the guided tour, Welcome event and Gala dinner, and transport between the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva and the conference venue.
Participants are also responsible for ensuring they have the necessary travel-related insurance for the duration of their visit (the organisers will not cover any medical expenses). We advise you to take out the necessary insurance in your country before you travel.
Vilnius: Facts and figures
Population: 605 270 inhabitants (2024)
Location/ Territory: The capital city Vilnius occupies an area of about 400 sq. km of which 29.1% approximately is developed and the remainder is green belt (68.8% approx.) and water (2.1% approx.).
State language: Lithuanian
Ethnic composition: Lithuanians 67%, Poles 15%, Russians 10%, Belarusians 3%, Other 5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 77.2%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Old Believer 0.8%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other 0.8%
Currency: EUR
Electricity voltage: 220V
Local Time: GMT + 2 hours (EET), GMT + 3 hours (summertime).
For more information, please visit: https://www.govilnius.lt/homepage
Contacts
If you have any questions regarding registration for the conference or any logistical aspects, feel free to contact CEC of Lithuania via e-mail: conference2025@vrk.lt or the Venice Commission: contact form.