The European Business Awards’ primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe.

For all of the citizens of Europe, our prosperity, social and healthcare systems are reliant on us creating an even stronger, more innovative, successful, international and ethical business community - one that forms the beating heart of an increasingly globalised economy.

The Awards’ aims:

• to draw attention to and recognise our best businesses and what they are doing.
• to enable companies of all sizes and industries to compare themselves to and learn from the very best in Europe.
• to stimulate the debate about the future shape, form and substance of the business community in Europe. 

In order to fund the running of the competition , the Awards deliver a range of products and services to the business community that generate income and are aligned with the objectives of the Awards. The range of products and services include: sponsorship, research, feedback and benchmarking.

Additionally, companies participating in the Awards are able to make a voluntary contribution towards the administration and running of the programme.

Through these activities the programme aims to be financially self sustaining.

Whether an organisation purchases a product or service, or makes any form of voluntary contribution, this will in no way influence the outcome of the competition.

The competition started in 2007

• In 2011:35 countries participated
• 15,000 companies engaged with the EBA
• 3000 were invited to enter
• 405 National Champions
• 110 Ruban d’Honneur recipients
• 11 European Business Award Winners

Christine Lagarde, former French Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment, Head of the IMF, “It is wonderful that all 27 member states of Europe are together [in entering the European Business Awards]. We want a strong Europe and you are participating in the process of building a strong Europe, piece by piece.”

Yves Leterme, former Prime Minister of Belgium“I think the Business Awards is a very good stimulus for all these people who are working in small- medium enterprises and in bigger companies to always try to improve their results because it’s important that from the outside society is looking at it and is rewarding them and for their efforts.”

Karel De Gucht, EU Trade Commissioner “We cannot get out of this crisis without businesses, that’s why I very much welcome the European Business Awards because it puts these businesses in the picture”

José María Aznar, former Prime Minister of Spain, “I have the highest opinion of the European Business Awards. It is a great initiative to promote the values and principles we believe in: liberty, democracy, freedom of speech, open markets and open societies.” 

Petar Stoyanov, former President of Bulgaria, “This event inspires and stimulates European Business to reaching exacting criteria, where not only annual turnover and sales count, but also factors with high social importance – what we call business ethics.”

Muharrem Dörtkaşli, President and CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries“This accolade provides us with a real sense of achievement and recognises our hard work and performance. We are always striving for excellence and it is a privilege that we are being celebrated as one of the best businesses in our industry, in our country and in Europe as a whole.”