The European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk

The European Solidarity Centre (ESC) is intended to be the driving force for spreading the ideas of democracy and independence. It is to be raised in the historic area of the Gdansk Shipyard. The BHP Hall which witnessed the signing of the historic August Agreements in 1980, Gate No. II to the Yard, and the promenade of freedom arranged as abroad pedestrian track to lead down to the peers are all meant to be integrally included in the centre. Alongside conference halls and a hotel section it will include a museum to commemorate the recent Polish history (1944 - 1989) and modern archives storing the abundant documentation relating to the times. Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Centre Foundation will have their offices at the ESC.

The target date for completing all works is set for August 2010. The architectural shape of the future ESC has not been determined yet. ESC may be composed of several buildings arranged in close proximity to one another. Alternatively, it may take the form of a I single structure, I interesting in I its design, rising I high into the sky I and divided into sections. The major functions envisaged are as follows:

• to initiate and organise symposiums, conferences and lectures spreading the idea of solidarity in the world,
• to maintain contact with national and international institutions which propagate human rights and demo cratic order in countries world wide,
• to create archives, a library and read ing room that will meet the demands of the 21st century, documenting the anticommunist opposition after the year 1945,
• to archive the actions taken by the free world countries in support of the underground Solidarity movement in the testing times of the marshal law and onwards up to the year 1989, and to keep record of those who exerted pressure on the communist regime,
• to establish a museum that will pre serve the national and cultural herit age, now started in its kernel form of the permanent exhibition entitled: 'Roads to Freedom',
• to pursue activities pertaining to the development of science, culture, and education through e.g. organising topical expositions, various national and European competitions.