Since 2023, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy awards the “Lighthouse” prize to individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage, integrity, and commitment to the public good. Previous laureates include Katarina Petrović (2024) and Aleksandar Obradović (2023). This year, the award went to Irena Joveva, member of the European Parliament from the Republic of Slovenia. The award was presented by Igor Bandović, director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, whose full speech you may find below.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Tonight, we gather to do something increasingly rare — to recognize and honor courage, consistency, and moral clarity in public life. The “Svetionik” Award was created to shine a light on individuals whose integrity and commitment illuminate the path for all of us.

This year, that light leads to a person who has shown, in the most difficult moments, what it means to be a voice of justice — to Irena Joveva.

Irena Joveva was born in 1989 in Jesenice, Slovenia. She graduated in journalism from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana and began her professional career as a journalist reporting on European politics and institutions. In 2019, she was elected to the European Parliament, where she distinguished herself in the fields of human rights, democratization, media freedom, and youth policies.

She is recognized as an authentic voice for students, civic initiatives, and all who believe that Europe must be a community of values, not merely interests. What sets her apart is her principled and unwavering commitment to defending human dignity, freedom, and justice.

At a time when the protests in Serbia received little attention in European institutions, Irena insisted that the voices of Serbian citizens be heard. She was among the Members of the European Parliament who consistently highlighted the struggle of students and citizens in Serbia for justice, dignity, and democratic freedoms.

On the anniversary of the tragedy in Novi Sad, Irena wrote a text that moved all those committed to justice. Tonight, I would like to share an excerpt:

“Unfortunately, justice does not prevail because it is stronger, but because it is more persistent. Evil is hard, but good is stubborn. I am not physically on the streets of Novi Sad today for a reason, but know that every sincere fight for justice, anywhere in Europe or the

world, is also my fight. True values are not defended from afar; nor are they defended merely by proximity. They are defended through conviction, courage, and steadfast belief.

I believe that the entire Union will come to understand this. If there has ever been a chance to write a textbook for a better future for Serbia — the only real textbook — that moment is now.”

Ladies and gentlemen, this year we present the “Svetionik” Award to a person who carried the light of persistence into European institutions and reflected it back toward Serbia when it was most needed.

Irena, on behalf of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy — we thank you.

Thank you for being a voice for Serbia when its voice struggled to be heard.

Thank you for choosing courage.

Thank you for standing firmly on principle when many others could not.

We congratulate you wholeheartedly — the 2025 laureate of the “Svetionik” Award.

Prior to receiving the reward, Ms. Joveva met Dijana Hrka, a mother who is seeking justice for her son and other victims of the canopy collapse by protesting in front of the National Assembly of Serbia. In her speech upon receiving the reward, Ms. Joveva stated that this award goes to everyone since this fight is universal, that she will not stop fighting nor turn her head from injustice since she knows this fight is not in vain.