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'European of the Year' awards announced
Published 04 December 2002 - Updated 29 January 2010
The late Pim Fortuyn, the up-and-coming Marco Cappato and his holiness the Pope topped the honours list of 2002's "European of the Year" awards, presented at a festive ceremony by the newspaper European Voice in Brussels on 3 December.
Background:
This year's awards prove that one does not have to be in the traditionally recognized "socially active" age bracket to qualify as the greybeard among the EU's grandees.
The title prize went to Italy's young, radical MEP Marco Cappato. At 31, Mr Cappato has earned recognition through his ardent civil liberties campaigns that included gigs to promote gay rights and the legalisation of cannabis and euthanasia.
The late Mr Fortuyn of Holland was recognized as "European Politician of the Year" for his invigoration of the Dutch political scene. The 54-year-old right-wing politician, who led his anti-immigration party to prominence in the Netherlands, was murdered in May 2002. Pope John Paul II, at 82, earned the title "Campaigner of the Year" for his role in promoting EU enlargement in his native Poland.
The other awardees included European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg ("Business Leader of the Year"), Commission President Romano Prodi ("Diplomat of the Year"), Sweden's Margot Wallström "Commissioner of the Year"), Maggie O'Kane of the Guardian newspaper ("Journalist of the Year"), and US Secretary of State Colin Powell ("Non-EU Citizen of the Year"). Each of the 10 winners received 5,000 euro to be donated to a charity of their choice.
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