ENGLISH / GERMAN
For the year 2025 the Kennedy Society has decided to award John F. Kennedy's book: "Profiles in Courage" to the former European commissioner Margrethe Vestager for her courage in her political decisions.
Margrethe Vestager has through her work as an European commissioner fought for the goal that the multinational companies shall behave and been taxed on the same terms as other European companies.
Margrethe Vestager has acted according to the words of Robert F. Kennedy: "We know that we cannot live together without rules which tell us what is right and what is wrong, what is permitted and what is prohibited. We know that it is law which enables men to live together that creates order out of chaos. We know that law is the glue that holds the civilization together." as he spoke at the University of Georgia at the 6. Maj 1961.
Margrethe Vestager has got the courage to get involved in many hard fights. This efffort has contributed to ensure that the European companies have been able to compete inside EU' and caused a higher and more fair taxation in EU of the income of the multinational companies.
In connection with the case where EU took legal actions against Google and Gazprom in April 2015 Margrethe Vestager said: "For me it is a very clear expression of the European values. We are created free and equal we have the same rights and we are worthy to the same respect. As a consumer or as an owner af a small entreprise you should know that there is somebody, who would look at it, if the things are not as they should be."
These words are in accordance with the ideas of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
In his speech at the 10. June 1963: A strategy for Peace at the American University John F.
Kennedy said "There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than
the long-range risk and costs of comfortable inaction."
And it is especially that fact, which Margrethe Vestager has acted according to and
towards the multinational companies. The consequences of doing nothing would be to big
for many companies and in the long run for EU itself.