Press release
Service of Press of the Council of Europe
MARVEJOLS (France) and COCKERMOUTH (United Kingdom) prize-winning of the Europe Price 2000
STRASBOURG, 06.04.2000 - The Europe Price for the year 2000 has just been awarded jointly to the French city of MARVEJOLS (Lozère) and to the English township of COCKERMOUTH (Cumbria).
This decision has been taken to the unanimity by the Commission of the environment, the regional development and the local powers of the parliamentary assembly of the ADVICE OF THE EUROPE, in the setting of his parliamentary session of April in Strasbourg.
Created by the parliamentary assembly in 1955, the Europe Prize is the highest distinction awarded to the territorial collectivities for their European action. II is constituted of a roving trophy, a medal, a diploma and a stock market for a journey of study of youngsters of the prize-winning township.

                             
In spite of the distance that separates them (1.600 km) and of their small size, MARVEJOLS and COCKERMOUTHS maintain since more than 15 years an exemplary twinning that knew a spectacular progression these last years.
So since his creation, the twinning implied close to 7.000 people of the two townships, of all ages and social conditions, and his success owes to the enthusiasm of town councils and committees of two township twinning a lot.
By her choice, the Commission also wanted to demonstrate that even the small local collectivities had access to this distinction. Marvejols and Cockermouths are all two prize-winning of the Flag of honor and the Tablet of honor of the Council of Europe and it is the first time that the Europe Prize is assigned to two townships bound between them by a pact of twinning .

Political organization founded in 1949, the Council of Europe looks after the backing of the democracy and human rights to the ladder of the continent. II elaborates some common answers to the calm social, cultural or legal challenges to his/her/its 41 States members.