ENDA KENNY IS set to receive European Movement Ireland’s European of the Year Award.

The former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader will receive the award from his successor Leo Varadkar at a ceremony at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin city on Monday.

European Movement Ireland said the award “recognises and honours individuals or organisations for their outstanding contribution to promoting Ireland’s place in Europe and to the development of the European agenda as a whole”.

A spokesperson for the organisation told TheJournal.ie that Kenny is receiving the award “for his work in building Ireland’s relationship with Europe throughout some of the most challenging circumstances in our recent history”.

They cited his work chairing the European Council in 2013 as well as “preparing the ground for the decision to include the Irish border as a priority issue in the Brexit negotiations and establishing the All-Island Civic Dialogues on Brexit, which have proved vital in helping civil society and business prepare for Brexit”.

Since the award was established in 1988, Irish individuals with backgrounds in art, business, politics and administration have received it. Previous winners include playwright Brian Friel, businessman Michael Smurfit, former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald and former Secretary General of the European Commission Catherine Day.