The European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner is the winner of the 16th Premi Blanquerna which will be presented by the Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia. The prize-giving ceremony took place in Madrid's Centre of Fine Arts on past 19th November, during an act presided over by the President of the Generalitat, José Montilla.
The jury has distinguished Benita Ferrero-Waldner for her extensive and brilliant professional career, for her work as Commissioner for External Relations in the consolidation and development of the European Union and especially for her contribution to the process of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, of Austrian descent, has worked for over thirty years as a diplomat for the United Nations and in the Austrian Federal Government. Over these years, and from her position, she has intensified her relations with Catalonia. In 2005, she actively participated in the Euro-Mediterranean summit held in Barcelona.
Her involvement emphasised her encouragement of the participation of governments and territories that wish to contribute to defining and managing the present and future of Europe.
She is a leading political and institutional figure and one of the few women to achieve this degree of recognition for her efforts in making Europe look towards the Mediterranean.
- President: Minister of Culture and the Media, Joan Manuel Tresserras
- Vice President: The Catalan Government delegate in Madrid, José Cuervo
- Secretary: Secretary of the Catalan Government Delegation in Madrid, Juan Felipe Vicario Peñas
- Secretary of Institutional Relations and Participation, Josep Vendrell
- Director of Analysis and Planning of the Presidential Department, Jaume Badia
- Director of the Ramon Llull Institute, Josep Bargalló
- President of Madrid's Centre for Fine Arts, Juan Miguel Hernández
- The Director of Madrid's Student Residence, Alicia Gómez-Navarro
- The winner of the 2007 Premi Blanquerna, Professor of Constitutional Law, Javier Pérez Royo
- RESOLUTION PRE/2239/2009, of 30th July, notifying of the 16th Premi Blanquerna (cat)
- Press note on the presentation of the 16th edition of the Premi Blanquerna (cat)
