RocaJunyent awards the 11th Law and Society Prize to the Jacques Delors Institute, represented by Enrico Letta
The jury of the Law and Society Award has highlighted the contributions of Jacques Delors to the creation of the European Community, reflected in the role of the President of the Institute, and former Prime Minister of Italy, Enrico Letta, who received the award on behalf of the institution.
During the ceremony, the prizes were awarded in the eleventh RocaJunyent Lawyers' Social Responsibility Competition, which recognises the best work carried out by secondary school students on the importance of law as a basis for interpersonal relationships and coexistence in society.
Barcelona, 21 November 2024. RocaJunyent today presented the 11th Law and Society Award, which this year went to the Jacques Delors Institute, in tribute to its founder, who passed away at the end of last year, for his contribution to the creation of the European Community. The prize was collected by the Institute's President, Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and author of the influential report ‘Much More than a Market’.
The Jury of the Prize stated that ‘Jacques Delors’ contributions laid the foundations of today's economic and social order, shaping the principles and structures that define our European Union today. As such, his institute remains a living legacy of that vision, providing a space for intellect and debate that is highly valued today. Its President, Enrico Letta, embodies these values, and has been a driving force for change in building a Europe capable of adapting to new social realities’.
This award is part of RocaJunyent's Social Responsibility of the Legal Profession programme. The ceremony was held at the Barcelona Bar Association, and was presided over by Miquel Roca, honorary president of the firm, and Joan Roca Sagarra, executive president of RocaJunyent. The event was attended by authorities from the Generalitat de Catalunya and Barcelona City Council, as well as numerous magistrates, representatives of the legal sector and prominent business leaders.
The President of the Jacques Delors Institute, Enrico Letta, stands out for his contributions to the European Union, reflected in the report ‘Much More than a Market’, commissioned by the Council and the EU Commission. This document sets out a vision of Europe that goes beyond commercial interests and integrates social justice, democratic values and environmental sustainability in its approach. In it, the author devotes special attention to the Social Economy, underlining its fundamental role in strengthening the social dimension of the Single Market.
The Council thus adopted part of its conclusions, consolidating its role as an active agent of change in the current vision of Europe. In this way, Letta embodies the values of the institution he chairs, founded by Jacques Delors, one of the main architects of the euro and the intellectual author of a Europe conceived as a union that transcends the purely economic. Delors, who presided over the European Commission for three terms from January 1985 to the end of 1994, fostered during his tenure a strong commitment to freedoms, social justice and solidarity.
Letta also has a strong political background, including his role in the founding of the Italian Democratic Party, his role as Minister for European Affairs, Minister for Industry, Trade and Craft Trades, and his experience as a Member of the European Parliament.
11th Lawyers' Social Responsibility Competition for Secondary School Students
The event also saw the awarding of the prizes for the eleventh edition of the RocaJunyent Lawyers' Social Responsibility Competition (RSA), a competition that honours the most outstanding work by secondary school students on the importance of law and the impact of the law on everyday life. This RSA project, in which a large majority of the firm's lawyers participate, is carried out through a programme of educational sessions in schools, aimed at students in the third and fourth years of ESO. Since its first edition, the programme has had the participation of nearly 11,000 young people, who have attended more than 500 sessions organised.