President Costa is awarded the 2025 Forum Europa Prize, calls for the defense of our freedoms, our tolerance, and our democracies in a world that is changing at an accelerated pace

The President of the European Council, Mr. António Costa, received the prize awarded by New Economy Forum from His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain. The recognition was bestowed by Spain’s and Brussels’ leading debate organisation, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its founding. The award ceremony took place at the Teatro Real in Madrid. This is a special edition of the prize, marking both the 25th anniversary of New Economy Forum, and two fundamental European milestones: the 40th anniversary of Spain and Portugal’s accession to the European Union, and the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. 

In his thank-you speech, President Costa called for the defense of our freedoms, our tolerance, our democracies in a world that is changing at an accelerated pace,

The “Forum Europa Award for Social Cohesion and Economic and Social Development” has been granted to Mr. António Costa as “an expression of Spanish society’s recognition of his political career, his friendship with Spain, his firm commitment to the founding values of the European Union and —in his role as President of the European Council— his outstanding contribution to building a more united, social and democratic Europe.” In its statement of reasons for the award, New Economy Forum further highlights the following merits of President António Costa, as a leading figure of contemporary Europeanism: “His inclusive leadership, which helps strengthen cohesion among Member States by promoting dialogue and unity in the face of common challenges such as the post-pandemic recovery, Europe’s response to the aggression against Ukraine, and the strengthening of Europe’s strategic autonomy; his unwavering defense of the Union’s founding spirit —of cooperation, peace, and shared progress— and for advancing a Europe closer to its citizens.” 

The President of the European Council, António Costa, received the prize awarded by New Economy Forum in a ceremony presided over by His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain, on September 29 at 12:00, at the Teatro Real in Madrid. The President of the Spanish Senate, the President of the Spanish Constitutional Court, the Spanish Vice-President and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise. “This special edition is part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of our organisation’s founding, and also coincides with two other milestones of particular Europeanist significance: the 40th anniversary of Spain and Portugal’s signing of the treaties of accession to the European Union, and the 75th anniversary of the ‘Schuman Declaration,’ which laid the foundations of the European integration project we share today,” stated José Luis Rodríguez, president and founder of New Economy Forum.  

Since 2003, the awards granted by New Economy Forum have been received by the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Ban Ki-moon); the Presidents of the European Council (Van Rompuy), the European Parliament (Borrell, Tajani, and Metsola), the European Commission (Barroso and Juncker), and the European Central Bank (Trichet); the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (Borrell); the Presidents of Argentina (Macri), Brazil (Lula da Silva), Colombia (Santos), Chile (Bachelet), Italy (Napolitano), Mexico (Calderón), and Portugal (Cavaco Silva); the Chancellor of Germany (Merkel); the Secretaries-General of the OECD (Gurría) and the ILO (Ryder); the Managing Director of the IMF (Rato); the drafters of the Spanish Constitution; and the businessman Florentino Pérez. 

New Economy Forum is Spain’s leading debate organization, with a regular and dynamic presence in six cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville, Málaga, and Valencia). Since 2024, NEF has also been active in Brussels under the motto “Ideas to Strengthen the Union”, with the participation of prominent figures from European institutions and the European economy.