Viadrina Prize
recognizes the cooperation between
Germany and Poland since 1999
For her pro-European commitment over decades, Róża Gräfin von Thun und Hohenstein, Member of the European Parliament, has been awarded the 21st Viadrina Prize. The Encouragement Award was received by the project “Weimar Triangle“. The award ceremonies took place as part of the opening of the 31st Academic Year of European University of Viadrina.
Live recording: Róza Thun receives 21st Viadrina Prize on Oct 13th 2022
The awardee 2022
Róża Gräfin von Thun und Hohenstein is a Polish politician who is particularly committed to European integration. She has been a member of the European Parliament since 2009, initially as a member of the European People's Party (EVP) and since last year a member of the Liberal faction "Renew Europe". She is member of the "Poland 2050" party by Szymon Hołownia.
In 1979 Róża Thun completed her studies of English philology at the Jagiellone University in Kraków, where she was already involved in the democratic opposition during her studies. After her marriage to Franz Graf von Thun and Hohenstein, she lived in Germany from 1981 to 1991, where she supported the Polish opposition.
From 1992 to 2005 she helped to built up the Robert Schuman Foundation in Warsaw as a director. She actively campaigned for Poland's membership in the European Union. From 2005 to 2009 she was director of the representation of the European Commission in Poland.
In the European Parliament, Róża Thun deals with consumer protection through standardised regulations. Moreover, she is concerned with the protection of the environment, digital market policies and the regulation of the circular economy. She is strongly committed to constitutional legality and human rights in Poland and worldwide, and she is the speaker for migrants, who come to Poland, and supports the democratic opposition in Kazakhstan.