Youth Forum's Christian Meseth wins Eury prize for "Vision 2009"

Awarded on the basis of originality and impact on public affairs practice, a panel of experts judged that two finalists best described their vision for public affairs of 2009. The winner, with the highest number of nominations from members of the jury, will designate one favourite NGO to receive a 2-week advertising campaign on EurActiv.com, and is also awarded an ECPA Public Affairs Trophy (PAT).

The winner of the Eury Prize 2004, awarded this year for the Best Public Affairs Vision of 2009, is Christian Meseth, Institutional Relations Coordinator, European Youth Forum. Meseth's thoughtful vision of public affairs on a 2009 horizon impressed the jury with a sharp analytical approach to impending inter-institutional power shifts.

Other interviews published included prize runner-up Daniel Gueguen, Justin Greenwood, Scott Hamilton, Rogier Chorus, Spyros Pappas.

With his Eury Prize in hand, Christian Meseth was invited to participate in the ECPA's Annual Conference Panel on Constitutional Change. He declared "I was very surprised when I learned I had won!" Some of his main points in the interview: "NGOs will need to provide transparency and ensure internal democracy if they want to remain credible," "I do not believe that the EU currently is a system of participatory democracy. This is a claim that is still to be fulfilled."

Note to the editor:

The Eury Prize jury was composed of  EurActiv Publisher (and Chair) Christophe Leclercq; EurActiv Editor, Willy De Backer; ECPA Director, Liz Spencer; ECPA Management Board Deputy Chairman, Rinus van Schendelen; and Politik & Kommunikation Chief Editor, Tobias Kahler. The Eury Prize 2004 was organised by Philip A. Springuel, EurActiv Senior Public Affairs Manager.

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