Bono, Corrs nominated for European awards

U2’s Bono and The Corrs are among 50 high-profile Europeans nominated for a European of the Year award.

The awards are presented to those considered most influential in shaping EU policy during 2001. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner hosted by the Belgian Foreign Ministry in Brussels this evening.

Bono is understood to have been nominated for his campaigning to relieve Third World debt; The Corrs were nominated for their work as "copyright lobbyists".

Other nominees include EU figures such as Mr Mario Monti, Mr Pascal Lamy and Mr Jacques Delors, as well as Italian premier Mr Silvio Berlusconi and British prime minister Mr Tony Blair.

Also nominated are anti-globalist Mr Jose Bove and "metric martyr" Mr Steve Thoburn, a Sunderland trader who defied a European Union directive by selling his fruit and vegetables by the pound rather than the kilogramme.

US President Mr George Bush has been nominated for the Non-EU Citizen of the Year award.

There are 10 award categories altogether, including "European Leader of the Year", "European Visionary of the Year", "European Politician of the Year", "European Campaigner of the Year" and the most prestigious award, "European of the Year".

The winners will each receive a cheque of €5,000 to donate to the charity of their choice. The awards are run by the European Voice, the in-house Brussels newspaper.