Coppieters Awards Ceremony to Recognise Anders Eriksson

On the 14th April 2023, Coppieters Foundation will honor Mr Anders Eriksson as the 2022 recipient of the Coppieters Awards at an official award ceremony in Mariehamn, Åland Islands.

With this award, Coppieters recognizes Mr Eriksson’s historical leadership in the development of the Ålands self-government.

This remarkable politician will be honoured and thanked for his lifelong dedication and political work, advocating in favour of self-determination and power devolution of Åland Islands, and the rights of Ålandish people.

What are Coppieters awards?

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

Who is Anders Eriksson?

Mr. Anders Eriksson has been a prominent figure in the political life of Aland Islands for the last 40 years. In this period, he has served in various institutional positions, each time working hard to defend Aland’s self-determination and minority issues in the Ålands Lagting– the Åland Parliament- and the Nordic Council.

As a minister of the Aland government, he has served well his people’s interests. For example, in 1995 when Åland joined the EU, as Minister of Trade, Mr Eriksson understood the boost that better linkages and transportation would give to the economy. Therefore, he played an important role in the negotiations that led to the Åland protocol.

After many years into politics, he co-founded the party Ålands Framtid. This party originated from a political think tank working for Åland’s self-determination quest. After a while it became obvious, that political power was the only way to influence and defend self- determination. So the party was born in 2002; always with the same goal to build a more fair and more free country.

Through his tireless efforts and the bridges he has built across the European Regions, Mr. Anders Eriksson managed to place the case of Åland Islands high in the European agenda, making it a case study for all European stateless national movements in their fight for linguistic, economic and devolution rights.

In acknowledgment of the entirety of his contribution to Åland Islands and the fight for self-determination Coppieters Foundation presents him with the 2022 Coppieters Award.

Here, you can read the speeches of the participants:

• C. Awards 2022 Antonia Luciani Speech, Secretary General of Coppieters Foundation
• C. Awards 2022 Jill Evans Speech, 2020 Coppieters Awardee
• C.Awards22 Xabier Macias Speech, President of Coppieters Foundation
• C. Awards 2022 Anders Eriksson speech, Award recipient

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Practicalities:

When: Friday, 14th April 2023, from 18.00 to 20:00
Where: Arkipelag Hotel, Mariehamn

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 Social Media with the hashtag #CoppietersAwards22

Press:

Media inquiries can be addressed to ove@pr-media.ax or info@ideasforeurope.eu

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This award and the Coppieters Foundation is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor for the opinions of the speakers at the awards ceremony.

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