Alice Shaw, a British law student at Strasbourg University, was declared the winner of the 2017 edition of the European Prize for Eloquence. The competition took place on 7 March at the Council of Europe. The six best speakers qualified from semi-finals, which brought together 16 candidates from 10 countries – Brazil, Canada, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, Spain, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
The aim of the competition is to draw attention to European institutions and the construction of Europe and to debate topical political and social issues in the course of an oratory contest.
It is also intended to stimulate exchanges and debates, and to promote the French language through the mastery of public speaking by students.
The finals were watched by 300 members of the public.
The competition has been organised for the third time by the School of Young Orators of the Strasbourg Institute of Political Science in co-operation with the Council of Europe.
A jury, made up of political, academic, cultural and media figures, evaluated the performances of the young international speakers:
- Gilles Heyvaert, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the Council of Europe
- Gabriel Eckert, Director of the Institute of the Political Science School, Strasbourg
- Frédérique Berrod, Professor, Institute of the Political Science School, Strasbourg
- Anja Vogel, President of the Strasbourg Press Club
- Matjaz Gruden, Director of Policy Planning, Council of Europe
- Doris Pack MEP, German Member of the European Parliament
- Maître Arnaud Dupuy, Barrister
