Barroso to be awarded honorary degree by UCC

President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso is to be awarded an honorary doctorate by University College Cork in recognition of his commitment to the European Union and the part it has played in transforming Irish universities.

It’s expected that Mr Barroso will use the opportunity to speak about Ireland’s response to the economic downturn in a 25-minute address after he receives the degree of Doctors of Laws at UCC next Wednesday evening.

Mr Barroso will receive the accolade before a large audience of invited guests from the world of education, business, politics, industry, government and the wider community.

President of UCC Dr Michael Murphy said the award was an acknowledgement " of the vision and commitment he has demonstrated at the helm of the European Commission since 2004".

“As his second term in office draws to a close, in his wake rests a legacy that fulfils his own motto - ‘educate, connect, inspire’ - admirably. In honouring him, we also recognise the role that the European Union has played in the transformation of Irish universities, including UCC, over the past 20 years.”

A reception will follow the honorary conferring ceremony, during which Mr Barroso, a former prime minister of Portugal, will meet university academics, members of local, national and international government and the business community, amongst others.

The event will be be streamed live from UCC at http://www.ucc.ie/en/live/ from about 6pm on March 5th and it will mark Mr Barroso’s second visit to UCC following an earlier visit in 2008 when he delivered an address at UCC on the Lisbon treaty.