The highlight of March's plenary session was unquestionably the award ceremony of the Adamowicz Award. Named after the former Mayor of Gdańsk, who was murdered in 2019, the prize recognises individuals or organisations that play a key role in promoting freedom, solidarity, and equality across the European Union. This year, the jury granted the award to Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul, who is currently jailed on political charges. It also conferred a special recognition on Mary Crilly, CEO and founder of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork.

As the laureate, the Mayor of Istanbul, is currently imprisoned on political charges, he was unable to be present to accept the prize. This symbolism was not lost on EA Group member and Mayor of Sopot, Magdalena Czarzyńska‑Jachim, who took the floor on behalf of her Group: “The symbolism of today's ceremony is powerful and painful: an award named after an assassinated mayor is given to a mayor unjustly jailed." She underlined that there is no place for political prisoners in the European Union, nor in any of its candidate countries.

For Czarzyńska‑Jachim, speaking during the award ceremony was a particularly meaningful moment, as she comes from a seaside city situated just next to Gdańsk. “I remember vividly the shock that struck our communities when Mayor Adamowicz was brutally murdered in 2019, leaving a deep wound, but also strengthening our commitment to defending democracy, dignity, and local leadership."

Lastly, she warmly congratulated the recipient of the jury's special recognition, Mary Crilly. She thanked her for her ground‑breaking work in the fight against sexual violence and reaffirmed to all victims that the EA Group will always stand by their side.​

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