Maryland Estonia Exchange Council

Updated on Dec 26, 2024

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The Maryland Estonia Exchange Council, Inc., also known as MEEC, is a charitable tax exempt corporation to advance the friendship of the State of Maryland and Estonia by providing opportunities for partnerships that enhance cultural exchanges and strengthen political, economic, medical, educational, and security links.

The Maryland Estonia Exchange Council, Inc., which is a charitable tax exempt corporation under the Internal Revenue Code, section 501 (c)(3).

Purpose

The purpose of Maryland Estonia Exchange Council, Inc. is to establish and coordinate agreements of international cooperation between the towns, cities, counties and governments of Estonia and the State of Maryland. These agreements allow specific initiatives for mutual benefit to businesses, cultural exchanges, educational programs, civic organizations, security departments and healthcare institutions.

History

The special relationship between Estonia and Maryland started in the early 1990s as part of the NATO Partnership for Peace Program at the end of the Cold War. The Maryland National Guard was linked to the Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit) as part of a State Partnership Program. Since 2003 Maryland Estonia Exchange Council, Inc. has coordinated the non-military links between Estonia and Maryland. In 2006 and 2009 official agreements were signed formalizing civilian links between Estonia and the State of Maryland. In 2009, the officers of Maryland Estonia Exchange Council, Inc. became members of the MD Secretary of State's Sister State Advisory Board.

Cooperation initiatives

In November 2015, Memorandum of Understanding between the Maryland Military Department and the Estonian War Museum was signed to demonstrate the Maryland Military Department’s commitment to their State Partner and furthering the mutual goal of promoting their military history.

In 2014, Bel Air signed agreement with first sister city - Narva, Estonia. The partnership can offer cultural, educational, and business exchanges.

In 2012 a memorandum of understanding for a new academic program with Salisbury University (SU) and Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) was signed. The collaboration, which also involves the University of Tartu (UT), will allow SU students who are pursuing B.S. degrees in computer science, mathematics or information systems to complete their senior year in the newly created Salisbury Abroad: Cybersecurity Program in Estonia. After graduation, they may seamlessly continue on to earn an M.S. degree in cybersecurity or software engineering at TUT or UT.

In June 2013 Cumberland and Viljandi agreed to mutually explore opportunities to raise cross-cultural awareness and seek beneficial areas of cooperation. In June 2014, the City of Cumberland Maryland hosted a reception to celebrate their one-year partnership with the Estonian city of Viljandi. To mark the occasion, an exhibit entitled “The Undiscovered World. The Secret of Lacebird, by Estonian artist Pusa (Piret Bergmann), was displayed at Cumberland’s City Hall.