Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus elected European of the Year

Valdas Adamkus, President of Lithuania, was declared “European of the Year 2007” at the annual EV50 gala awards ceremony organized by the European Voice last November 27.

EV50 The Europeans of the Year are the annual awards each December shining a spotlight on 50 individuals people who most affected the EU legislative and policy agenda during the preceding year.

The winners in the other categories were:

• “Stateswoman of the Year”: Angela Merkel, German Chancellor
• “Commissioner of the Year”: Viviane Reading, information society and media Commissioner.
• “Campaigner of the Year”: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California.
• “MEP of the Year”: Claudio Fava, Italian centre-left European Parliamentary Member.
• “Diplomat of the Year”: was awarded jointly to Benita Ferrero-Waldner, external relations Commissioner, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister.
• “Business Leader of the Year”: Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin
• “Journalist of the Year”: Reneta Nikolova of Journalists Against Corruption, Bulgaria
• “Non-EU Citizen of the Year”: Gary Kasparov, leader of the United Civil Front opposition movement in Russia
• “Achiever of the Year”: Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank.