European journalist Otmar Lahodynsky honoured with the European of the Year Award for his life’s work and NGO ‘Vielmehr für Alle!’ for its commitment...

The 'European of the Year' Award, presented by the non-profit organisation Europe:United, honours outstanding personalities and organisations that are committed to a solidary, democratic and, above all, humane Europe. This year, the prestigious award goes to the NGO Vielmehr für Alle! - Association for Education, Housing and Participation and to the renowned journalist Otmar Lahodynsky, Honorary President of the Association of European Journalists (AEJ).

'It is a special honour and pleasure for me to present the European of the Year Award to such great examples of living humanity in all its diversity and to high-quality journalism in the spirit of European enlightenment.' - Dr Nana Walzer, President of Europe:United.

Otmar Lahodynsky, former President and current Honorary President of the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), receives the European of the Year Award 2024 for his outstanding life's work. His journalistic work has always focussed on European integration and the communication of democratic values. His book EU for You!: How the European Union Works, co-authored with Wolfgang Böhm, is particularly noteworthy as it gives young people an understanding of the structures and workings of the EU in an understandable and fact-based way. His commitment to fact-based knowledge transfer emphasises the importance of education and journalism for an enlightened and democratic Europe.

'In times of populism, it is more important than ever to strengthen democracy through high-quality journalism and to give people the tools to recognise and combat disinformation and fake news' - Otmar Lahodynsky