“The world-famous composer was bestowed the award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to promoting Hungarian music”, Ministerial Commissioner for Social Relations Zsolt Nyitrai said when presenting the award.

“Ennio Morricone has worked with Hungarian orchestras and choirs on many occasions during his world tours, and will also be performing with the Kodály Choir on Wednesday evening”, he highlighted.

The composer, who also composed the music for the Hungarian film Faithless (Sorstalanság), based on the Nobel Prize-winning novel of the same name by Hungarian author Imre Kertész, said it was a great honour ad expressed his thanks for the award, which Mr. Nyitrai presented him with in the name of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President of the Republic János Áder.

Also present at the event was film director Lajos Koltai, who has worked with Ennio Morricone on his films Faithless and Malena, and who congratulated the composer on receiving the state decoration.

(MTI)

Minister of State Zsolt Nyitrai stressed the need for timely and appropriate decisions for Europe to become the driver and beneficiary of technological changes in the information age, without losing pace. He also added that the infocommunications sector has a crucial role in preserving Europe’s competitiveness and boosting the economy.

One of the legislative priorities of the Hungarian Presidency, in accordance with the European Digital Agenda, is the promotion of broadband through the elaboration of a common spectrum strategy.

The success of the Hungarian EU Presidency could significantly contribute to enabling a larger number of European citizens with extended area coverage to access cheaper and more advanced telecommunications and IT services from the state or the market.

This also means that in today’s world the ever dominant digital services will become part of every citizens’ life anywhere in Europe; whether at home, at work, on the train or even on the ski slopes. The Hungarian EU Presidency could have a significant role in achieving this – underlined Zsolt Nyitrai.