The Honorouble Member of General Assembly of European Council Mr. Klaus Buhler presented it to the Mayor of Panevėžys Vitalijus Satkevičius.  This award is given to the city for the promotion of European idea, active development of international contacts. This year Panevėžys is the only city in Lithuania to receive the European Plaque of Honour.

"This award is a great honour for the city. No doubt we can state that we are a European city.  Moreover, European Plaque of Honour is handed over during the opening ceremony of European Cycling Track Championship- only cities which deserve that and are responsible may organise such events",- said the Mayor Vitalijus Satkevičius.

Four four years the Municipality has been striving for the Plaque of Honour. Each year the reports about the participation in international organisations(Union of the Baltic Cities and the European Network CITIES FOR CHILDREN), cooperation with 10 partner cities were presented to European Council. Information about the first contacts  and projects with the City of Vinica in Ukraine, municipal and other project exchanges, events promoting European idea  were provided.

Such events as European Men Basketball Championship(2011), international motorcross and other sports races, Investment Forum of Aukštaitija Region, International Fair  EXPO AUKŠTAITIJA, the projects devoted to the European Year of Volunteering(European Marathon of Volunteering, BE A VOLUNTEER- CCHANGE THE WORLD), International Stone Sculpture Symposiums, Puppet Theatre Festival LAGAMINAS, European Mobility Week, the events dedicated to the Day of  the Earth, municipal projects connected with E-democracy, city marketing, Baltic Sea Region INNOREG project were described to the European Council.

European Plaque of Honour is the last step for the Municipality of Panevėžys Municipality is receiving the main prize- European Prize. The first steps have laready taken: in 2006 the city received the European Diploma, in 2008- European  Flag of Honour

This year the Plaques of Honour will be received by 11 cities in different states (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom).