Cementos Lemona, the compact steel mill of Bizkaia, Basf Española, Acciona energy, Repsol YPF and Somorrostro training center are some of the winners

The Prince of Asturias handed over last January the European awards for the environment granted every two years by the Environment Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of industry and the Ministry of environment, to those companies that demonstrate a firm commitment to sustainable development. These awards, which reaches this year its 10th Edition, are convoked by the European Commission, Directorate-General of environment, and its objective is to publicly recognize those organizations who with his performance contributed to the fulfilment of the principles of sustainable development.

The awards ceremony, presided over by HRH the Prince, took place in the Auditorium of the Spanish Confederation of business organizations (CEOE). The Act involved, in addition, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of industry, tourism and trade, Pedro Mejía; the President of the jury of awards, Cristina García-Orcoyen; the President of the CEOE, Jose Maria Cuevas; and the Chairman of the Environment Foundation, Javier Salas.

Before an audience of more than three hundred entrepreneurs, the Director of Environment Foundation, and President of the jury, Cristina García-Orcoyen, stated that "initiatives such as these European awards, based on innovation and best practices, contribute to promote the reflection of business leaders on the role of business in society". And he encouraged business Spanish, large and small, to "successfully meet the challenges that threaten the sustainability of our planet".

The awards of this 10th edition of the awards European environment, Spanish section, have been awarded, for categories in:

• Cementos lemona, in the category of business to sustainable development. In this same category have obtained accesit compact steelmaking plant of Bizkaia and Basf Española;
• Acciona energy, in the category of product for sustainable development. They have obtained the second prize in this category DTS Oabe and Rotártica;
• lemona Industrial, in the process for the sustainable developmentcategory. The second prize have been granted to ceramic Piera and Hera Holding;
• The Center of training Somorrostro and Repsol ypf have obtained the second prize in the category of International cooperation for sustainable development; leaving the desert award;
• Telefónica S.A., in the category of communication for sustainable development. Eroski Group and Hospital Clínico San Carlos have obtained the second prize in this category.

The European Environment Awards are the most prestigious prize in the field of enterprise sustainable development in our country

This edition of the Spanish section have been submitted a total of 75 projects

The European Awards environment the company, which reaches this year its 10th Edition, are convoked by the European Commission, Directorate-General of environment, and its objective is to publicly recognize those organizations who with his performance contributed to the fulfilment of the principles of sustainable development.

Created in 1987 on the occasion of the world year of the environment, convened every two years through the national sections of the States members of the European Union. The Environment Foundation organizes the Spanish section since 1997.

All the winners in this edition of the Spanish section (prizes and honourable mention), with the exception of the category of communication for sustainable development - that is specific to the Spanish section-, they now have the opportunity to participate in the European finalwhere there are projects of enterprises of the 25 EU Member States. The winners at the European level will be announced in early June in Brussels in an event organised by the European Commission.

The European Environment Awards are the most prestigious prize in the field of enterprise sustainable development in our country and Europe, and is an important social recognition of their efforts for award-winning companies

All the winners in this edition are able to participate in the final europeadestacado

In addition, the Spanish section has since the last with a specific category, Edition - that does not provide the competition at European level-, which recognizes the best communication projects for sustainable development. A dozen of projects were presented in this category.

All the nominations, as of October 14, 2005, were evaluated in the first place by an independent consultant and, then, valued and punctuated by a jury composed of representatives of different entities, institutions and organizations from the business and environmental world.

The awards jury was chaired by the Director of the Environment Foundation, Cristina García-Orcoyen, and also composed by Joaquín Garralda Ruiz de Velasco (Global Compact), Juan Carlos from the elm Castillejos (WWF/Adena), María Luz Gómez Fernández (IHOBE), Mercedes Montesinos del Valle (Ministry of environment)Rafael Aracil Luciano (BP), Victor M. Gonzalez Marroquin (IDEPA), Joan Rieradevall Pons (Inst.) (Science and environmental technology), Joaquín Nieto Sainz (CCOO), Luis Carlos Mas García (Ministry of industry), Luis Miguel got Lisa (Pyrenees wineries), Santos Cuadros García (Superior Council of Chambers of Commerce of Spain).