The award ceremony took place in the European Parliament on 16 October and was organized by the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation (ECTR).
PES Secretary General Achim Post, who attended the ceremony, stated that; “the Medal of Tolerance serves as a reminder of the kind of Europe we need. The PES is proud that the remarkable efforts of Boris Tadić, and Ivo Josipović have been recognised. Both leaders want the best for the citizens of their countries. They want to put the past behind them. What singles these leaders out for special recognition, is that they understand the value and reward of pursuing these aims in a spirit of reconciliation”.
The European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation is a non-governmental organisation that focuses on monitoring tolerance across the continent and promoting the improvement of inter-ethnic relations and intercultural communication between and inside countries.