Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding was yesterday named EU Commissioner Of The Year.
The award was announced during an annual competition and gala awards ceremony held in Brussels and organised by the Economist Group newspaper, The European Voice.
Ms Reding had a very high profile this year, particularly through the spearheading of legislation which obliged mobile network operators to cut roaming charges.
In fact, she won her award "for convincing EU legislators to curb roaming tariffs, making citizens' holidays cheaper".
Another winner in this year's edition is Lithuania's Prime Minister Valdas Adamkus who was declared European Of The Year for helping to broker a deal on the new EU treaty without isolating Poland.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was named Stateswoman Of The Year and Italian MEP Claudio Fava, MEP Of The Year.
The winners were chosen by readers of the newspaper from among 50 nominees selected by a panel of leading opinion formers.