The honourable award will be handed over to the city either in the beginning of September when the city will be celebrating its 509th birthday or during European Cycling Track Championship in October.

" The whole city community has worked very hard to get this honourable European award. We are very pleased that Europe notices our small but cosy city with many initiatives. The inhabitants of Panevėžys are ambitious and active people and I am sure that we will persistently aspire for the highest award- European Prize",- says the Mayor of Panevėžys City Vitalijus Satkevičius.

The municipality seeked for European Plaque of Honour for 4 years. Each year European Council used to receive the reports from Panevėžys about participation in international organisations(the Union of the Baltic Cities and the network "Cities for Children"), cooperation with 10 partner cities abroad. The information about the first contacts and projects with the City of Vinnica, Ukraine, municipal projects, events dedicated to European idea was also presented.

Such events as European Men Basketball Championship, other international sports competitions, Aukštaitija Investment Forum, International Trade Fair "EXPO Aukštaitija", projects dedicated to European year of volunteering(European Volunteering Marathon "Be Volunteer- Change the World", etc.) , International Stone Sculpture Symposium, the Festival of Puppet Theatres "Lagaminas", European Mobility Week, events on Earth Day were described.

European Plaque of Honour is the last step for the Municipality of Panevėžys in seeking for the main award- European Prize. The very first steps were done in 2006 when the city was awarded the European Diploma and in 2008 the city had the honour to receive European Flag of Honour.

This year 11 cities from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom will get the European Plaques of Honour.