Every year, The Parliament Magazine organises a competition for the best MEP in a number of categories. MEPs are nominated by nongovernmental organisations, institutes and foundations specialising in European policies.
The quality of nominations and their number are evaluated and three candidates are short-listed for each category. A vote is then taken by MEPs. This year close to 500 MEPs took part in the vote.
The host of the award-giving ceremony, former European Commission vice-president Viviane Reding, said that Stier was the first Croatian MEP to win the award, popularly called the EU Oscar.
Stier, the coordinator and EPP chief negotiator on the Committee on Development said that the nomination and award came as a result of his work on preparing a report on the global development framework after 2015.
Stier said that as rapporteur he had the opportunity to participate in a truly inclusive process in which all major political groups reached a consensus on a new development strategy.
The result is a strong message from the European Parliament that the EU's new development policy must be aimed at ensuring dignity and justice for all our citizens, said Stier.