1.
GV. PAN. EXT. Statue to Hofburg Palace
0.05

2.
GV. INT. Audience with Princess Irene and Scarf in foreground.
0.08

3.
SV. Prince Bernhard speaks.
0.12

4.
MV. Princess Irene and Scharf.
0.14

5.
SV. Chancellor Raab speaks.
0.19

6.
MV. Audience applauds.
0.21

7.
CV. Bernhard hands Jasper's award to German Ambassador.
0.31

8.
GV. Bernhard and Raab away from camera.
0.36

9.
MV. Princess Irene, Scharf and audience applaud.
0.38

10.
CU. Bernhard presents Schuman's award to French ambassador
0.49

11.
Bernhard and French ambassador.
0.56

12.
GV. Audience.
0.59



Initials S-D/S/JF/CW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, accompanied by his daughter Princess Irene, presented this year's Erasmus Prizes in Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria, Nov 22. The ceremony was symbolic as the two men selected for the awards were unable to attend. Their countries' ambassadors received the prizes on their behalf.

Chosen for this the second Erasmus Prize were German-born philosopher, professor Karl Jaspers, and French statesman Robert Schuman. Their contributions to European unity were: "Free undaunted thinking on the basic problems of human existence" by Dr. Jaspers; and the "grandiose initiative" in founding the European Coal and Steel Community by Schuman.

Worth about GBP10,000, the award is named after Dutch Renaissance philosopher Erasmus, and is given by the Netherlands on recommendation by the European Cultural Foundation - an organisation, founded in 1957, devoted to European unity.

The Erasmus Prize ceremony, attended by Austrian President Dr. Scharf and Chancellor Raab, was the closing item of this year's Foundation congress.

Last year's prize - the first - was given to Austria for its "determination to preserve its European character and culture in difficult circumstances."