The Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) is awarding the Taxpayers’ Prize to MEPs Elmar Brok and Udo van Kampen.

The European Taxpayers’ Award, which will be presented for the 16th time by the Association of European Taxpayers in Brussels on 7 November 2017, goes to MEPs Elmar Brok and Udo van Kampen.

MEP Elmar Brok is being honoured for his tireless commitment to Europe. His dedication to peace and, by extension, to the future of the European Union deserves the highest recognition, according to President Rolf von Hohenhau. He has been, and continues to be, a mediator and a stabilising force in difficult European issues, whether these involve conflicts between businesses and consumers or between political parties and governments. He does not shy away from travelling to conflict zones and war-torn areas to promote de-escalation directly on the ground. Elmar Brok stands for a better and fairer Europe that involves its people and restores their trust in political decision-makers. For him, social security and competitiveness are not mutually exclusive. It is therefore no surprise that he was entrusted with the difficult task of serving as the European Parliament’s Brexit sherpa, explains the Organisation of European Taxpayers.

Udo van Kampen, a television journalist and former head of the ZDF studio in Brussels, is known for his decades of journalistic work dedicated to objective reporting. He was the face of German television in Brussels and explained European issues to the public in accessible language. Although he himself is pro-European, he has always remained a neutral journalist who has never shied away from asking politicians and European decision-makers critical questions. Particularly at a time when the news is increasingly dominated by social media, it is important to have critical journalists who put the issue – and not themselves – in the spotlight, said von Hohenhau.

The award ceremony will take place on 7 November 2017 from 6.30 pm to 9.00 pm at the Baden-Württemberg Representative Office, Rue Belliard 60–62, 1040 Brussels.

The opening address will be given by TAE President Rolf von Hohenhau. The award ceremony will be hosted by Dr Ralf Schneider, Vice-President of the Association of European Journalists.

Following the ceremony, a reception will be held at the Representation of Baden-Württemberg in Brussels.

Rudolf G. Maier, Press Officer