European State Prize 2025: Innovative projects for a strong Europe!

European State Prize 2025: Innovative projects for a strong Europe!

Wien, Österreich - On May 28, 2025, the 2025 award was awarded in the Vienna Sofiensele. The event honored 89 projects submitted, of which 15 were nominated in five categories as finalists. The European State Prize distinguishes initiatives that make Europe tangible in everyday life and includes contributions from schools, municipalities, associations and civil society initiatives. European Minister Claudia Plakolm emphasized the importance of commitment to Europe at the award ceremony and recalled Austria's accession to the EU in 1995 and its economic, political and social advantages. In addition, she called for an action -capable Europe with less bureaucracy and more efficiency.

The European State Prize was launched in 2015 to promote the use for European values. Projects that receive the price set a strong sign for a lived Europe. The award winners were chosen in the categories "Europe in the community", "explain Europe", "Europe in Art & Culture", "Limitless Europe" and "Innovative Europe". The selection was made on the basis of criteria such as effectiveness, sustainability, innovative strength and multiplier effects.

proven initiatives and new ideas

Among the excellent projects were five outstanding examples: the “Europe and the Regions” project, initiated by the regional development association “Holzwelt Murau”, offers an educational offer for EU funding and aims to strengthen the visibility of EU use in the Murau region. Another remarkable project is "Ewandertag", which was realized by Europe Direct Styria in cooperation with the Styria Education Directorate. It enables students interactive, virtual trips to Brussels to convey EU knowledge and promote interest in political participation.

The project "In Search of Fulfillment" illuminates the effects of fast fashion and sensitizes to sustainable use of resources. The association is responsible for this "until it falls from the body" Austria ". With "Impact Blueprint", the SIA Social Impact Award non -profit GmbH supports young people in developing career -providing ideas with a video series. Finally, the project "Escape The Fake 2.0", initiated by Europe Direct Salzburg, contributes to media literacy and promotes critical use of fake news through an augmented reality game.

objectives and conditions of participation

The European State Prize, which will be awarded for the ninth time in 2025, has the goal of honoring people and projects who promote European thoughts and enable an open discussion about Europe. The total dotation of the price amounts to EUR 20,000, spread over five categories of EUR 4,000 each. Individuals, organizations and sponsors of civil society projects that work in the EU are eligible to participate. A minimum age of 14 years is a prerequisite for the submission, while local authorities are excluded from participation. Interested parties were able to nominate their projects by February 23, 2025.

The event was framed by a musical framework with the "Motus Quartet" and also included an exhibition "Austria's way to Europe", which addressed the historical context of Austria EU accession.

For further interesting information on the projects and the award ceremony, see [ots.at reports] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250528_OTS0155/ Exemination-fuer-Ebenebes-Europa-Europaminister-Plakolm-Verlih-europa-Staatpreis-2025), bundeskanzleramt.gv.at and and kwf.at.