The Parliament Magazine organised their 10th MEP Awards ceremony at the Concert Noble in Brussels on 18th March. The Awards aim to “act as a showcase on the often unreported efforts and achievements of our European parliamentarians”, endeavouring to “bring Europe that little bit closer to its citizens”.
EU policy stakeholders had drawn up a shortlist of three MEPs for each of the 16 award categories, which was then opened up to a vote by all MEPs. More than 480 MEPs cast their vote - the largest turnout in the Awards’ history.
As Brussels prepares for the European Parliament elections due between 22 and 25 in May across the Member States, this year’s Awards not only considered MEPs’ achievements of the past year, but also the whole parliamentary term.
This year's Outstanding Contribution Award went to Ulrike Lunacek, Vice-President of the Greens and head of the parliament’s LGBT intergroup, who succeeded in getting the EU Roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity voted in this parliament. Lunacek apologised for not being in Brussels to accept the Award in person, but used a video message to express her “really heartfelt gratitude” for the accolade.
The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP Group) outnumbered the other political parties, producing 10 out of the 16 winners, whilst the UK had the most awarded MEPs with Andrew Duff, ALDE (Best Use of Social Media Award), Arlene McCarthy, S&D (Economic and Monetary Affairs Award), Chris Davies, ALDE (Environment Award) and Malcolm Harbour, ECR (Internal Market and Consumer Protection Award).
Below is the complete list of MEP winners:
- Outstanding Contribution: Ulrike Lunacek, Greens/EFA, Austria
- Agriculture and rural affairs: Elisabeth Köstinger – EPP, Austria
- Best Use of Social Media: Andrew Duff – ALDE, UK
- Digital agenda: Seán Kelly – EPP, Ireland
- Economic and monetary affairs: Arlene McCarthy – S&D, UK
- Employment and social affairs: Edite Estrela – S&D, Portugal
- Energy: Anne Delvaux - EPP, Belgium
- Environment: Chris Davies – ALDE, UK
- Health: Alojz Peterle – EPP, Slovenia
- Internal market and consumer protection: Malcolm Harbour – ECR, UK
- Internet policy: Róża Thun - EPP, Poland
- Justice and civil liberties: Kinga Gál – EPP, Hungary
- Regional development: Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid – EPP, France
- Research and innovation: Marian Jean Marinescu – EPP, Romania
- Sustainable built environment: Jan Olbrycht – EPP, Poland
- Transport: Jim Higgins – EPP, Ireland