Main award „VICTORIA EUROPAE” (EUROPEAN VICTORIA) 2015
Member of the European Parliament
“in recognition of many years of activity aiming at strengthening Poland’s position
in the European Union, as well as building a solid, just and competitive Europe”
Jerzy Buzek was born in 1940 in Śmiłowice (Silesian Voivodeship). A politician, former Prime Minister of Poland and former President of the European Parliament. In 1999, he brought Poland into the NATO structures and in 1997 he initiated negotiations with the European Union. Since 2004 an MP to the European Parliament and currently the President of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), as well as the Conference of Committee Chairmen at the European Parliament, and Initiator of the Energy Community, rapporteur of the 7th Framework
Programme for research, energy technologies strategies and the internal energy market in the EU.
He graduated as an engineer from universities in Gliwice and Cambridge. He is the author of over 200 scientific publications. He is a scholar, community activist, and politician. His restless energy found an outlet in the European Parliament, to which he was elected, obtaining the best result in Poland. He participated in numerous Parliamentary Committees: Industry, Research and Energy, Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as well as Counteracting Climate Change. He was also a member in the following European Parliament Delegations to: the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, Delegation for relations with the Southwest Asian countries and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). On July 14, 2009, he was elected the President of the European Parliament obtaining 555 out of 644 valid votes – this was the biggest support that a President of the EP obtained since 1979, i.e. since the first direct election. He was the first President elected from the new EU Member States. With his signature modesty, he commented on his success in the following way: “I perceive my election as a tribute to the millions of citizens of our countries who did not surrender to the regime”. In his keynote speech, he presented the following to be the priorities of his mandate: promoting the idea of the European Energy Community; promoting democracy and defending human rights; strengthening co-operation with EU neighbours in the east and south of Europe; increasing the EU’s role in the multipolar world; long-term EU budget according to the needs and ambitions of the enlarged Union; developing the European Parliament to play a bigger role after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Professor Jerzy Buzek constantly pursues restoring the meaningful role of coal in the European economy with its new, environmentally friendly use. Professor Jerzy Buzek obtained the title of doctor honoris causa at the universities in Dortmund, Seoul, Isparta, the University of Silesia in Katowice (2010), the Opole University of Technology (2006), the Silesian University of Technology (2007) and the Lodz University of Technology (2010).
The following awards and titles highlight appreciation for his involvement and skills: the Chair of the Year 1998 (The Warsaw Voice), the Grzegorz Palk Award (1998), the European of the Year (the EU Forum of the Chambers of Commerce, 1998), the Man of the Year of the Wprost weekly magazine (1998), the Gustaw Adolf Award (2004), the MEP Award in the category of “Research and Technology” (The Parliament Magazine, 2006), the Silesian Quality Award (2007), the Man of the Year of the Silesian Voivodeship (Forbes, 2007), the Medal of the Silesian University of Technology, the Professor Stanisław Ochęduszko Medal, the Władysław Grabski Lewiatan Award (2008), the Silesian Oscar (2008), the Golden Badge with a Diamond of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology Senate (2008), The Best Polish MEP (according to the rankings by Wprost i Rzeczpospolita), the Wiktor Award for the most popular politician (2009), the BCC Special Award – Leader of the Polish Business (2009). 1998 and 2009 – title of the “Man of the Year”, 2007 – title of the “The One who Changes Polish Industry”, 2011 – title of the “Diamond Engineer 2011”, 2012 – distinguished as the “Outstanding Polish Man” – for the overall performance in the work for Poland and for the Polish people.
