The 2003 Europe Prize: “Journalism for a Changing World”
Excellence in Reporting European and Global Drug Issues

Thank you Aidan.

On behalf of the Network of European Foundations European Mercator Fund, I would like to say we are extremely honored to sponsor this momentous event in association with the International Federation of Journalists.

This event gives the opportunity to European Foundations to pay an important tribute to values that are essential to the transmission of ideas and knowledge and to the development of any community. Freedom of expression, social justice, diversity and pluralism – these are the values that the prize is recognizing today.

Let me say that there is no better organization than the International Federation of Journalists to present such a prize. The IFJ has been defending the rights of journalists for many, many years, and it is due to your institution that such a level of ethical solidarity exists throughout the media community and the European continent as a whole.

From my many years spent working with European foundations, I have been a part of that great effort to build a European society, sharing a common sense of compassion, humanity and culture. By spending most of my life advocating cooperation between foundations towards a shared identity, I am able to appreciate your work Aidan White and the IFJ as well as your endeavor to build a similar sense in the media community.

The ability to freely disseminate ideas, as well as the construction of a European community of shared values are two concepts that are brought together by this prize. The ability for both these elements to be brought together was already illustrated earlier today during the European Policy Centre dialogue on Drug Policy. Now it is time to reward those that keep us connected on these issues. Indeed, it is the journalist who will show us the way.