Bono, lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, has been named “European of the Year” for his campaign for debt relief in developing nations, in a poll conducted by the weekly European Voice.
Danish film director Lars von Trier was named “Visionary of the Year.”
Ten winners were selected by European Voice readers from a list of 50 nominees compiled by journalists and opinion leaders from across the 15 European Union nations. The announcement was made earlier this month.
Each winner received $4,458 to donate to a charity of his or her choice. Bono, 41, said his prize would go to the Irish charity Concern, according to U2’s Web site.
“A more prosperous world is a more secure world, a more educated world is a more tolerant world and a healthier world is a more stable world,” Bono was quoted on the Web site.
