On Tuesday 11 June 2024, the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe in Lausanne had the honour of receiving the President of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliamentary Assembly) of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, on the occasion of his official visit to the Swiss Parliament.
President Stefanchuk, who is the second in command in Ukraine, was warmly welcomed by Pat Cox, President of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe and former President of the European Parliament; Frédéric Herman, Rector of the University of Lausanne; Jacques de Watteville, Vice-President of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe and former Secretary of State; and Gilles Grin, Director of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe.
After a guided tour of the archives, President Pat Cox presented the Foundation’s Gold Medal to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for the exercise of its constitutional prerogatives during martial law, for its commitment to stand by the Ukrainian nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, for its resolve to lead Ukraine into the European Union, and for its readiness to seek consensus through dialogue and mutual respect. In doing so, the Rada is making a major contribution not just to Ukraine, but to Europe as a whole.
For security reasons, the Foundation was unable to announce this event in advance or broadcast it live. Thank you for your understanding.
WATCH THE FILM OF THE CEREMONY
READ THE TEXT OF PRESIDENT PAT COX’S LAUDATIO
The recipients of the Foundation’s Gold Medal over the last twenty years are as follows: José Manuel Barroso, Emilio Colombo, Mario Draghi, Jean-Claude Juncker, Helmut Kohl, Martin Schulz, Javier Solana and Herman Van Rompuy.
