Szeged, which was already awarded the Flag of Honour in 2000 and the Plaque of Honour in 2002, is the first Hungarian town to receive the Europe Prize.
The award will be presented by Guy Lengagne, who heads the Europe Prize committee, in front of Szeged?s town hall at 16:30. Minster in charge of the Prime Minister?s Office György Szilvásy will be present at the ceremony, as will a delegation of forty foreign guests, among them representatives of Szeged?s twin towns. Szeged is twinned with eleven other European towns, including former winners of the Europe Prize, such as Darmstadt (Germany), and the Flag of Honour, such as Cambridge (United Kingdom), Odessa (Ukraine), Timisoara and Tirgu Mures (Romania).
Szeged Mayor László Botka has prohibited political campaigning for Hungary?s upcoming local elections at the weekend in order to ensure the integrity of the event.
The decision to award Szeged the Europe Prize was taken unanimously by the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs of the Council of Europe?s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) meeting in Paris on May 11, 2006.
Created by PACE in 1955, the Europe Prize consists of a trophy, a medal, a diploma and a scholarship to be spent on a study visit within Europe for young people from the winning town.
On the same day the award is presented, the city will start its three-day European Wines festival, which promises fine wine, food, concerts and dance performances. Some 40 vintners from nine countries will show their wines at the festival. Among the wines festival goers can taste are those produced from the vineyards of the famous French actor Gérard Depardieu. On Friday evening, the 100-member Gypsy Orchestra will play and the Hungarian State Folk Dance Company will perform a work called ?Sun Legend?. On Saturday evening, the pop group Apostol and the singer Charlie will perform. The good food and good music will continue on Sunday.
