Cox wins 'European unity' prize

European parliament president Pat Cox today received a prestigious international prize for his “outstanding personal contribution” to European unity.

The International Charlemagne Prize is awarded annually by the city of Aachen.

The outspoken Cox has been president of the European Parliament since January 2002 – a period in which the assembly’s public profile has risen sharply.

The prize committee said Cox won the award “as recognition of the pioneering role played by the European Parliament in a critical phase in the development of Europe and also of his outstanding personal contribution in bringing about the enlargement of the Union”.

Cox earlier this month announced that he would retire from the European Parliament in June after 15 years.

The Charlemagne award, which is endowed with a symbolic €5,000, has been presented each year since 1950.

Previous winners include Tony Blair, former US President Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul and former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing.