Europe Prize

The Council of Europe awarded Gdynia its highest distinction - the Europe Prize. Every year this award is granted to one city (exceptionally to two cities) whose actions of propagating the idea of European Unity deserve most recognition. The award consists of Itinerant Trophy given to the winner for a year, bronze medal, parchment letter of congratulation and a scholarship (7600 Euro) for financing a study visit for one or a few young people coming from the awarded city. Europe Prize was established in 1955 and since then it has been presented to many European cities, among which there were capitals or big cities such as Vienna, Hague in 1958, Istanbul in 1959, Berlin-Neukölln in 1987, Linz in 1994 or Bologna in 1995.

The Meeting of the Committee on Environment and Agriculture that functions in the structures of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly took place in April 2002. The Parliamentary Assembly consists of representatives of 44 countries. An unanimous decision to grant the EUROPE PRIZE to Gdynia in recognition of its active promotion of European integration idea was made at the meeting. The Prize to our city was awarded in recognition of involvement in international relations, mostly for establishment of Baltic Ring of Gdynia Sister Cities. Gdynia's activity in the international organisations, which contributed to the consequent promotion of modern and democratic Europe among the citizens, was also appreciated. The ceremony of awarding the Europa Prize was held in the Music Theatre in Gdynia on 28 September 2002. The Prize was presented by the Council of Europe reprezentative - Mrs. Johanna Schicker.

Among Polish cities that received this honourable distinction are:
1998 CZĘSTOCHOWA
2002 GDYNIA
2008 KATOWICE

COUNCIL OF EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY COMMITTE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, REGIONAL PLANNING AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES SUB-COMMITTE ON THE EUROPE PRIZE
		Strasburg, 26 April 2002 MR WOJCIECH SZCZUREK MAYOR OF CITY OF GDYNIA City Hall of Gdynia Al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 52/54 PL - 81-382 Gdynia
Dear Mr Szczurek, Following my fax of yesterday, I take pleasure in confirming the decision taken by the Committee on the Environment and Agriculture of the Parliamentary Assembly at its meeting held in Strasbourg on 25 April 2002, to award the EUROPE PRIZE 2002 to the City of GDYNIA. As Chairman of the Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize, allow me to extend the Committee's warmest congratulations to your municipality and the members of your community. This distinction is awarded only to those municipalities or territorial authorities having shown outstanding efforts to promote union and understanding among the people of Europe. The choice of your municipality for this high distinction after a review of the many applications submitted to the Committee is a just reward for your unrelenting efforts in this field. The Europe Prize is officially presented to the prize-winning town by the Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe during a "Europe Day" ceremony organised by the municipality concerned. Please accept, Dear Sir, the assurance of my high consideration.
		(-) Johanna SCHICKER Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize

PRESS RELEASE Parliamentary Assembly Tel.: + 33 3 88 41 33 35 Fax: + 33 3 90 21 41 34 Assembly.news@coe.int www.coe.int/press
Gdynia (Poland) wins the 2002 Europe Prize STRASBOURG, 25.04.2002 - The 2002 Europe Prize has been awarded to the Polish town of Gdynia (voiv. Pomorskie). This decision was taken unanimously by the Committee on the Environment and Agriculture of the 44-nation Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly at its April Parliamentary Session in Strasbourg. Created by the Parliamentary Assembly in 1955, the Europe Prize is the highest distinction that can be bestowed on a European town or territorial authority for its European action. It consists of a trophy, a medal, a diploma and a scholarship to be spent on a study visit in Europe for young people from the winning town. This dynamic city, situated on the Baltic Sea, has sought for many years through its numerous twinnings as well as through its participation in a large range of bodies and organisations to promote a modern and democratic Europe. Through its twelve European twinnings (Plymouth, Kiel, Aalborg, Kotka, Karlskrona, Kristiansand, Klaipeda, Baranovichi, Kaliningrad, Liepaja, Kunda, and the Region of Vilnius), and two American ones (Brooklyn and Seattle, Gdynia developed its international contacts and formed a "network of Baltic towns twinned with Gdynia", building up with each of them very specific links. Already winner of the Council of Europe's Flag of Honour in 1996 and the Plaque of Honour in 1998, Gdynia is the second Polish winner of this high distinction after Częstochowa in

Opublikowano: 14.11.2006 00:00
Autor: Małgorzata Aleksiak