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Paet stated that the goal of the activities of the Center of Eastern Partnership is to strengthen the administrative capabilities of the public sector in Eastern Partner states and share reform experiences with them.

"Over past ten years, Estonia has given instruction based on its own reform experiences to hundreds of officials from our Eastern Partners," Paet stated.

"The opening of the Center of Eastern Partnership will allow us to support our Eastern Partners even more effectively in their integration with the European Union and the implementation of reforms," he added.

Paet stated that the center will organize instructional seminars for state officials and diplomats of the Eastern Partners, as well as training programs for young diplomats and research activities on the topic of Eastern Partnership. The center will increase the ability of the nations involved in the partnership project to hold negotiations and to co-operate with the European Union and its institutions.

The Estonian Center of Eastern Partnership is being funded by the Foreign Ministry. The center also receives support from the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA) and the Finnish Foreign Ministry.

For Estonia the Eastern Partnership states are a priority not only politically and economically, but also as partners for development co-operation.