Ceremony of the EUROPAEUS European Prize in Velden am Wörthersee: Award for Austria’s “Mister Europe” EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, “EU accession applicant” Brigitte Ederer and visionary pioneer Herbert Kulterer
The fact that the European heart beats particularly strongly in Carinthia was impressively proven on Friday evening in Velden. State Governor Peter Kaiser and Economic Chamber President Jürgen Mandl proudly presented the EUROPAEUS European Prize to three outstanding personalities who not only actively lived the European idea, but also played a significant role in shaping it: Austria’s “Mister Europe” EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, exceptional entrepreneur Herbert Kulterer and top manager and former EU State Secretary Brigitte Ederer. The laudatory speakers were Jean-Claude Juncker, former President of the European Commission, Timo Springer, CEO Springer Maschinenfabrik and President of the Carinthian Industrial Association and Pamela Rendi-Wagner, former Minister for Health and Women and Director of the EU Health Agency ECDC.
The special position of Carinthia, both in the Alps-Adriatic region, in Europe, but also as a gateway to the East and Southeast, was already expressed in the opening statements by Governor Peter Kaiser and President of the Chamber of Commerce Jürgen Mandl. Through the expansion of new transport hubs, such as the Koralmbahn, as well as the establishment of new economic partnerships and collaborations, the associated opportunities for the Carinthian economy, the living space and the business location are also increasing. At the awarding of the European Prize EUROPAEUS 2024, which has been presented since 2009 Joint prize from the State of Carinthia, the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce and the Forum Velden awarded, three outstanding personalities were once again at the center of this European idea. The initiator and organizer of the European Prize EUROPAEUS is entrepreneur Walter Prutej from Forum Velden.
None other than the former President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker gave the eulogy Austria’s “Mister Europe” EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn. The longest serving member of the current European Commission, Johannes Hahn, received the EUROPAEUS in the category „Europapolitik – History in the making“. He was honored for his tireless commitment to a Europe of regions. His motto was always that regional policy was a European success story to which there was no alternative! Award winner in the category “Awareness raising – Europe on my mind” war Brigitte Ederer, supervisory board member, former Siemens board member and European State Secretary at the time when Austria was preparing to join the EU. From 1992 onwards she successfully campaigned for Austria’s accession to the EU, propagated the “Ederer Thousand” and, among other things, negotiated together with Foreign Minister Alois Mock in Brussels. Her laudator was Pamela Rendi-WagnerMinister of Health and Women off duty and now Director of the EU health agency ECDC, based in Stockholm. The exceptional entrepreneur received the EUROPAEUS in the “Economy – Internationalization/Pioneers” category Herbert Kulterer, entrepreneur and former wood industrialist, Hasslacher Group. His laudator was Timo Springer, CEO Springer Maschinenfabrik and President of the Carinthian Industrial Association. In almost 50 years, Herbert Kulterer built a world market leader and global player from Carinthia and was a leading stakeholder in the wood, paper and sawmill industry in Europe.
They were also satisfied Jury members Martina Rattinger from the EU Liaison Office of the State of Carinthia in Brussels, Meinrad Höfferer, Director of the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce and Walter Prutej from Forum Velden. “Since its inception in 2009, the EUROPAEUS has gained significant economic and socio-political importance and has become a symbol for free action, free thinking and a free society in a community of around 500 million Europeans,” was the tenor of the three jurors!
The EUROPAEUS 2024 award winners again in a detailed overview:
CATEGORY EUROPEAN POLITICS “HISTORY IN THE MAKING”
- Prize winner: Johannes HAHN, EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration
- Laudation: Jean-Claude JUNCKER, former President of the European Commission
ECONOMY CATEGORY “INTERNATIONALIZATION/PIONEERS”
- PRIZE WINNERS: Herbert KULTERER, retired entrepreneur & industrialist, HASSLACHER Holding
- LAUDATION: Timo SPRINGER, CEO SPRINGER Maschinenfabrik & President of the Carinthian Industrial Association
CATEGORY CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING “EUROPE ON MY MIND”
- PRIZE WINNER: Brigitte EDERER, supervisory board member, industrial manager & EU State Secretary (ret.).
- LAUDATION: Pamela RENDI-WAGNER, former Minister for Health & Women, Director of the EU agency ECDC