P
rince
of
A
sturias
A
wards
1981-2014. S
peeches
9
between history and progress. This may be the result of his wanderlust, of his contacts with the
universities and cultural milieus of America, where he has been a truly exceptional ambassador of Spain.
Or perhaps it is the outcome of what he himself elegantly calls life’s “squalls”, for Francisco Ayala
also represents the Spain of exile, which teaches us the lesson of having been able to prolong —in
spite of suffering the heartbreak of fraternal conflict— those intellectual ambitions of the “Silver
Age” of our culture, which at the beginning of the 1930s endeavoured to serve Spain from the
viewpoint of culture rather than ignorance, equity rather than political extremism and reason rather
than lack of understanding. We are striving to overcome some of the miseries of that period in this
chapter of our history that we are building today, this time acting as one.
This year’s Prince of Asturias Award for the Social Sciences has been conferred on PierreWerner
and Jacques Santer. The former set the foundations for and boldly paved the way toward monetary
union. The latter has formalised and consummated the reality of the euro, from his position as
President of the European Commission. Both are firm believers in Europe who have worked hard
to strengthen the links between the different countries and have always advocated perfecting the
Community and, in a word, our future. It is through them that we also acknowledge a good number
of distinguished Europeans whose efforts have been decisive in the success of this collective project.
This process involves moving towards a mutually linked and irreversible Community for the
countries of the European Union and their citizens. It is also, after centuries of dissent and war, a
wager for freedom in diversity, now that we have been made stronger through unity; a wager, in
short, for peace. Economic change will mean that the single currency will also have deep political
and social repercussions that will profoundly affect the daily life
of Europeans. We face a great moment in the history of humanity,
since a strong Europe is not only good for Europeans, it is also
good for the world.
This new Europe cannot be built from the perspective of
economic and commercial relations alone. The sustenance for
the European spirit must also be solidarity, so as to take on
unemployment, humanitarian aid, cooperation with the most
underdeveloped countries, democratization of supranational
political institutions and a shared culture; this pluralistic culture
that is in turn made up of so many rich national cultures.
At the same time, our continent must maintain the fundamental character that has made it
stand out from among other peoples: its condition as a privileged space for cultural activity. We
want Europe to continue to be the source of the mightiest expressions of human creativity, a land
of painters and writers, scientists and philosophers, musicians and architects; beings who search
for progress and welfare without renouncing that humanism of vigorous Christian roots, ever
illumined by the eternal flame of freedomof thought. To strengthen these foundations is particularly
important at the present time, when the globalising power of economic conditions and impregnates
our lifestyles and attitudes.
The Award for International Cooperation has many names this year: the names of seven
extraordinary women who are fighting to defend women’s and children’s rights, and against the
violence and discrimination that they are victims of in different parts of the world. Their efforts,
which should unite us all, bring to mind that beautiful metaphor of an Indian writer, “The lantern I
carry in my hand protects me against the darkness of the road ahead.”
Let us remember their names: the Mozambican Graça Machel; the Algerian Fatiha Boudiaf; our
Guatemalan sister Rigoberta Menchú; Olayinka Koso-Thomas, from Sierra Leone; the Afghan Ishaq
Gailani; the Cambodian SomalyMam; and the Europeanwho is closest to us, the Italian Emma Bonino.
All of them struggle on many fronts against the fanaticism and prejudice that, even in our
century, continue to turn children into soldiers in wars that are not theirs; harm women to the very
core of their being and strip them of their dignity; force refugees into an endless exodus; violate
human rights and basic liberties; kill humble innocents without reason or purpose; or confine their
“Our continent must maintain the fundamental
character that has made it stand out from
among other peoples: its condition as a
privileged space for cultural activity.”
