Coppieters Awards 2019 To Recognise Camilo Nogueira and Patxi Zabaleta

On 6 November 2019, the Coppieters Foundation will honour Camilo Nogueira and Patxi Zabaleta as the 2019 recipients of the Coppieters Awards at an official ceremony in Brussels.

With these awards, Coppieters will recognise their historical leadership in the Galician and Basque movements, respectively.

They will be honoured and thanked for their lifelong dedication and political work, advocating for democratic and peaceful action in favour of devolution and self-determination.

What are the Coppieters Awards?

The Coppieters Awards are an initiative of the Coppieters Foundation to honour individuals and organisations that, like Maurits Coppieters himself used to, stand for the defence of cultural and linguistic diversity, inter-cultural dialogue, self-determination, the rights of minorities, peace, democracy and a united Europe. The main objective of the Coppieters Awards is to give recognition to individuals and organisations that have successfully managed to find innovative ways to advocate for and embody these values.

Who are Camilo Nogueira and Patxi Zabaleta?

Camilo Nogueira is a historical leader of the Galician movement, whose trajectory is marked by a strong defence of the Galician people’s political rights and his international projection.

From 1981 to 1993, he was a representative in the Galician Parliament, where he played a significant role in establishing some of the first self-government laws.

He then represented the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) in the European Parliament, where he developed and led its Stateless Nations Intergroup. As a Member of the European Parliament, he stood as a defender of linguistic diversity within the European Union and a strong bond between Galicia and Portugal.

He also published a variety of articles and books on Galicia and its role in a Europe of all peoples, as well as numerous essays about history, solidarity, and social and national rights.

Patxi Zabaleta has been a key reference in the Basque Country’s political arena over the last 40 years, mainly for his leadership in advocating for the exclusive use of democratic and peaceful ways of political struggle inside the Basque national left.

A lawyer by profession, he held positions of political representation at the highest levels, for instance as a spokesperson for political party Aralar in the Parliament of Navarre, of which he was a member from 2003 to 2015 (2003 to 2007 in Aralar – 2007 to 2015 in Nafarroa Bai).

He is also a writer and member of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language since 1987. A co-founder of ikastola San Fermin, a Basque school where lessons are given in Basque language, and the euskaltegi Arturo Campión, a school of Basque for adults, he also determinedly promoted the setting up of a television channel which could be the voice of the Basque soul of Navarre: Nafar Telebista.

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Practicalities:

When: Wednesday 6 November 2019, from 18:00 to 21:00
Where: Maison Grand-Place, Grand Place 19 Grote Markt, Brussels

Finger food and drinks will be provided.

Do you want to attend? please RSVP at info@ideasforeurope.eu

Language:

The event will be held in English. No interpretation will be provided.

Get involved:

This event is invitation-only. Share your views about the event on Facebook or tweet with the hashtag #CoppietersAwards19

Press:

Media inquiries can be addressed to info@ideasforeurope.eu

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These awards are financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor the opinions of the speakers at the awards ceremony.

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