The conference “From the Lublin Union to the European Union” in the Lublin Castle and the family picnic in the European Meeting Centre in Nasutów were the main points of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the European Meeting Centre – Nowy Staw Foundation.

Chairman Tomasz Różniak received the prize as the representative of the Foundation. While accepting the prize Tomasz Różniak stated that the 15 years of the Foundation’s work are concrete answers to contemporary challenges focused on values like freedom, democracy, dialogue and solidarity. These are represented in more than 1200 projects, seminars, trainings, exchanges, conferences and research programs. Included in these is also the international cooperation with organizations from 47 countries of the European Union, Eastern Europe, Balkans and Caucasus. It is as well a personification of an enormous engagement on behalf of the Foundation’s Employees, Volunteers, Co-workers and Friends in the realization of the Foundation’s mission.

The meeting was opened by Henryka Strojnowska, the vice-voivode of the Lublin Voivodeship. In her speech relating to the subject of the conference she denoted that the non-governmental organizations have a great potential for development and are a real treasure for Poland and the Lublin Region. The chances for development depend on people, on their engagement and their will to act for the communities. The representatives of the regional and local government, members of Parliament and representatives of non-governmental organizations from Poland and from other countries took part in the discussions and presentations devoted to the challenges of contemporary Poland and Europe. These were: the European Centre for Workers' Questions – EZA, the Polish-German Youth Office, the Centre of Civic Media Bennohaus, the Society for the Partnership Munster-Lublin and the Volyn Centre Nasha Sprava.

To close the conference, Anna Moskwa, the Vice-Chairman of the Foundation, thanked every institution, organization and individual that cooperated with the Foundation throughout these 15 years. Anna Moskwa said: “The work of the Foundation is possible thanks to you; our partners, co-workers and volunteers. You are real friends.”

On the second day of the celebrations of the 15th anniversary of the European Meeting Centre – Nowy Staw Foundation, a memorial plate was unveiled in the Foundation's House in Nasutów. The employees and the friends of the Foundation had the opportunity to meet and have fun together during the family picnic.