Press Release Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit Ref: 277a08 Tel: +33 3 88 41 31 93 Fax :+33 3 90 21 41 34 [email protected] internet: www.coe.int/press

Katowice wins the 2008 Europe Prize 47 members

Albania Strasbourg, 17.04.2008 – The 2008 Europe Prize has been awarded to the Andorra Polish town of Katowice. The decision was taken unanimously by the Armenia Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs of Austria the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) meeting today in Azerbaijan Belgium Strasbourg. Bosnia and Herzegovina This town in Upper Silesia, developed a very dense network of international Bulgaria contacts with municipalities in central, western and eastern Europe, the United Croatia Cyprus States of America and China. It developed a very intense co-operation in Czech Republic Europe with Strasbourg and Saint-Etienne (France), Cologne (Germany), Denmark Groningen (Netherlands), Odense (Denmark), Ostrava and Opava (Czech Estonia Republic), Miskolc (Hungary) and Kosice (Slovakia). Thanks to its numerous Finland France economic, scientific and socio-cultural institutions, Katowice furthered Georgia numerous European projects with foreign towns. Germany Greece Katowice, which was already awarded the Flag of Honour in 1998 and the Hungary Plaque of Honour in 2000, is the third Polish town to receive this award, after Iceland Ireland Czestochowa and Gdynia. Italy Latvia Created by PACE in 1955, the Europe Prize is the highest distinction that can Liechtenstein be bestowed on a European town for its actions in the European domain. The Luxembourg prize consists of a trophy, a medal, a diploma and a scholarship to be spent on Malta a study visit within Europe for young people from the winning town. Moldova Monaco * * * Montenegro Netherlands The Plaque of Honour, which is the second highest distinction after the Europe Prize, Norway was awarded to eleven municipalities: Portugal Austria Reiβeck (Carintia) Romania Russia Belgium Halle (Flemish Brabant) San Marino France Charnay-lès-Mâcon (Saône-et-Loire) Serbia Germany Bonn-Hardtberg (North-Rhine-Westphalia) Slovakia Brackenheim (Baden-Wurtemberg) Slovenia Eggenfelden (Bavaria) Spain Königsbronn (Baden-Wurtemberg) Sweden Poland Goleniów (woj. Zachodniopomorskie) Switzerland Rybnik (woj. Śląskie) “the former Yugoslav Ukraine Kharkiv Republic of Macedonia” United Kingdom Stockport (Greater Manchester, England) Turkey ./.. Ukraine United Kingdom

The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 318 members from the national parliaments of the 47 member states. President: Lluís Maria de Puig (Spain, SOC) ; Secretary General of the Assembly: Mateo Sorinas. Political Groups: EPP/CD (Group of the European People's Party); SOC (Socialist Group); EDG (European Democratic Group); ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe); UEL (Group of the Unified European Left).

The Flag of Honour was awarded to 19 municipalities this year:

Czech Republic Zubří (together with Rosdorf) France Amilly (Loiret) Andrésy (Yvelines) Germany Auenwald (Baden-Wurtemberg) Hude (Oldb) (Lower-Saxony) Kressbronn am Bodensee (Baden-Wurtemberg) Marktheidenfeld (Bavaria) Rosdorf (Basse-Saxe) (together with Zubři) Waldbronn (Baden-Wurtemberg) Wissen (Rhineland-Palatinate) Hungary Csorna Italy Russi (Ravenna Province) Lithuania ( County) Panevėžys (Panevėžys County) Poland Kędzierzyn-Koźle (woj. Opolskie) Lublin (woj. Lubelskie) Mrągowo (woj. Warmińsko-Mazurskie) Ukraine Ivano-Frankivsk United Kingdom Rushmoor B.C. (Hampshire)

23 municipalities were granted the European Diploma:

France Civrieux d’Azergues (Rhône) Germany Altenberge (North Rhine Westphalia) Aschaffenburg (Bavaria) Schwabenheim (Rhineland Palatinate) Italy Alfonsine (Ravenna Prov.) Capannoli (Pisa Prov.) Codigoro (Ferrara Prov.) Lithuania Ignalina () Kaunas () Šalčininkai ( County) Švenčionys () Varėna () Netherlands Borne (Overijssel) Poland Bolesławiec (woj. Dolnośląskie) Dąbrowa Górnicza (woj. Śląskie) Lubliniec (woj. Śląskie) Malbork (woj. Pomorskie) Nysa (woj. Opolskie) Tarnów (woj. Małopolskie) Romania Caracal Slovenia Metlika Spain Lorca (Murcia) Sant Cugat del Vallès (Catalonia)