The first time the Prize was awarded, it went to the French director, Ariane Mnouchkine. When she was presented with the Prize she gave the fallowing addres:
"On behalf 'of the company of the Théâtre du Soleil' I thank the judges, the organizers of Taormina Arte and the European Commnunity. We are happy and proud to receive the Europa Prize and feel it very important that this symbolic - and financial-gesture, the European Community is showing that it is not only tbe Community of Tomatoes or of Pork, but also the Community of Art. But the Europe of the Community is not all of Europe. This evening thoughts go to the other Europe, the Europe we call 'Eastern', as if to make it further away. My thougths go to all those unauthorized artists who work in the churches in Poland, in the cellars in Hungary, in the garages of Czechoslovakia, almost everywhere pheraps a little shadily.
Without aid and in the greatest of difficulties they hold high the flame of the theatre, of poetry and of truth in their countries. My thoughts go to those who ofthen clamber up the wall to cast a glance at us who despite all our crises, are still so rich and so free. I would like them to know this evening that we are thinking of them, and that this Prize, which I am receiving tonigth, is also theirs, that we are waithing for the Old World to become Young again.
Thank you" .

7th August 1987