European research, innovation and science commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has hosted the Parliament Magazine's annual event in Brussels recognising MEPs for their outstanding work over the current legislature.
Geoghegan-Quinn took to the stage on Tuesday for the 10th MEP awards in the Concert Noble hotel in Brussels' EU district, where 16 members of the European parliament, in a variety of policy areas, were rewarded for their work.
The Irish official said that "while the work of the European parliament covers a far broader set of topics, these awards hope to highlight the work of a few deserving individuals who have made a special contribution in the past year and parliamentary term."
The Irish official thanked the overall sponsors, EU40 and EuroBrussels, for supporting the 10th edition of the MEP awards and praised the high level of parliamentary support, saying, "a record 483 MEPs took part in the voting process, which is the highest participation to date".
"I'd like to congratulate all the winners and nominees," she said, adding, "Whatever your political party or home country, you are all true Europeans who serve the interests of the people of Europe.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all success to those who are contesting the forthcoming European elections and for those who will move to pastures new this year, I give you my very best wishes."
The event also featured the triumphant return of former MEP award winner Vladko Panayotov, who entertained revellers once again by playing saxophone on stage with a live band.
Managing editor of the Parliament Magazine Brian Johnson, who presented one of the awards, said, "10 years wow, I can't believe it. It seems it was a twinkle in our eye only yesterday. The MEP awards have been a highlight, not just for those coming here tonight and the stakeholders, but also for the Parliament Magazine. It's an event we take very seriously and one that we hope everyone enjoys."
And the winners are:
Outstanding Contribution:Ulrike Lunacek: Greens/EFA, Austria
"Fear and scaremongering have to become a thing of the past. Gay and lesbian people sometimes are still afraid to walk in the streets hand-in-hand with their loved ones".
Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Elisabeth Köstinger: EPP, Austria
"I gratefully accept this award and would like to thank my dear colleagues. I would particularly like to thank my colleagues from the agriculture committee for their patience and hard work dealing with the reform of the common agricultural policy during the last two years. Together we achieved a lot and managed to reform the CAP towards a more sustainable and greener approach for a better future for European farmers and for our families."
Best Use of Social Media:Andrew Duff: ALDE, UK
"I took up twittering at the age of 60. It is perfect for politics - good to tease people, good for being sarcastic, but it is also good for serious work. It is a strong democratic tool and this European election will be the Twitter and Facebook campaign. Social media connects people with power and power with people."
Digital Agenda:Seán Kelly: EPP, Ireland
"This is a great honour, thank you to all who voted for me and it is wonderful to work with all people in the area of the digital agenda."
Economic and Monetary Affairs: Arlene McCarthy: S&D, UK
"I accept this award on behalf of a fantastic group of MEPs on a committee that had lots to clean up after the financial crisis"
Employment and Social Affairs: Edite Estrela: S&D, Portugal
"I dedicate this award to all women, especially those who are victims of violence and suffer discrimination and women in my country of Portugal who are suffering from austerity measures"
Energy: Anne Delvaux: EPP, Belgium
"This is a great honour. 'The only place where you find success before work is in the dictionary' – this is so true. [The report on the EU's 2030 climate and energy package] was a huge challenge involving 13 co- and shadow rapporteurs and extraordinary teamwork."
Environment:Chris Davies: ALDE, UK
"You can't organise a cross-party pressure group in the parliament without enjoying working across parties. I would like to thank my team members in the Fish for Future group who worked so hard to bring support from across the political groups to ensure a better future for the fish in our seas and jobs for our fishermen."
Health:Alojz Peterle: EPP, Slovenia
"I'd like to express my gratitude first to my voters and my collaborators. I regret that health is still the first challenge facing EU citizens and I will work to ensure it is not."
Internal Market and Consumer Affairs:Malcolm Harbour: ECR, UK
"One of the things we really appreciate is the prominence given to the committees in the Parliament Magazine. Committees are successful because we work together and we deliver. We have always approached our work with commission and council in the spirit of wanting to get an agreement and this is a wonderful thing about working in the European parliament."
Internet Policy:Róza Thun: EPP, Poland
"We celebrate tonight, but there is still a lot to do. This award gives me a portion of the energy I need to ensure the internet is a safe, open, transparent and more democratic space. The internet is our challenge and our chance."
Justice and Civil Liberties:Kinga Gál: EPP, Hungary
"There is no success in the European parliament on your own – nothing is achieved without our colleagues and assistants so it's a joy."
Regional Development: Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid: EPP, France
"It is such a great pleasure to receive this award from a local authority from my own constituency. I dedicate this to my fellow French citizens from my constituency. They know the difficulties of cross border integration."
Research and Innovation: Marian-Jean Marinescu: EPP, Romania
"First of all I would like to thank the Parliament Magazine, which allows us to put our ideas across. Thank you to my colleagues, assistants, shadows and the European commission; you all contributed a lot to this regulation [on European satellite navigation systems]"
Sustainable Built Environment: Jan Olbrycht: EPP, Poland
"First, I would like to thank my colleagues and all partners of the [urban] intergroup – we are doing very interesting things. It is so good to get the prize before the elections."
Transport:Jim Higgins: EPP, Ireland
"To everyone involved - congratulations. A lot of work goes into an event like this, and the 10th anniversary is particularly significant, so well done. "
More than 400 guests turned out on the night for the awards, which are now in their 10th year, to enjoy drinks generously supplied by the Brewers of Europe.
Ulrike Lunacek, who received the outstanding achievement award for her sterling work as rapporteur on the EU roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, was unable to attend but recorded a video message which was played on the night.
"Fear and scaremongering have to become a thing of the past," said the Austrian MEP, who warned that within Europe, "gay and lesbian people sometimes are still afraid to walk in the streets hand-in-hand with their loved ones".
"This has to stop", she said, adding that some LGBT people were afraid to "say on a Monday morning who they went with to the movies with on a Sunday evening because they are afraid of losing their job, because they afraid of being thrown out of school, because they are afraid of being thrown out of their families".
Lunacek, who heads parliament's LGBT intergroup, expressed her "heartfelt gratitude" at receiving the award, stressing that it was "so important that the European parliament made it clear that homophobia has no place in Europe".