European Voice lauds Fenech Adami

The European Voice's main story this week focuses on the European awards of the year and Eddie Fenech Adami's surprise achievement at being voted as European of the Year 2003.

The front page of the Brussels based newspaper, which belongs to the Economist Group, shows a picture of Dr Fenech Adami under the headline "Great Hat-Trick Eddie!".

In the story, European Voice says that if US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld's win as Non-EU citizen of the Year was the "big shock" of the night, there was "some mild surprise" at the end of the evening when Dr Fenech Adami was named as European of the Year 2003.

"In fact, the diminutive leader of the tiny but intensely patriotic Mediterranean island (many of whose citizens it seemed voted for him in our on line poll), was a very worthy winner."

European Voice said that the veteran leader achieved "two tremendous" electoral successes in 2003.

"First, when his compatriots endorsed his call for joining the EU by a wafer-thin margin, the first acceding country, to do so and thus allaying fears that the smallest of the budding EU entrants would thwart enlargement. Then Fenech Adami gambled by immediately calling a general election, narrowly defeating the then anti-EU Labour Party."

The European Voice said that the 69-year old traced back Malta's European vocation to the time the Knights of St John were given tenure of the island in 1530.

"I was always sure the Maltese would make the right choice. This is a homecoming for us. It is where we belong," Dr Fenech Adami was quoted as saying by European Voice.

There were 10 categories in this event: Commissioner of the Year, MEP of the Year, Statesman of the Year, Diplomat of the Year, Visionary of the Year, Campaigner of the Year, Business Leader of the Year, Journalist of the Year, Achiever of the Year and Non-EU citizen of the Year.

In an event which takes place every year one of those nominated in these categories will also be chosen as the European of the Year. This year Dr Fenech Adami was chosen by voters as the European of the Year.

The European of the Year and the 10 category winners were chosen by people voting on-line at www.ev50.com or through a ballot form printed in European Voice. The winners receive a special trophy and a cheque to donate to a charity of their choice.

Dr Fenech Adami was nominated for winning a "cliffhanger vote for EU membership and avoiding the prospect of the smallest candidate blocking enlargement".