Created by the Ministers' Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 1955, the Europe Prize is the highest distinction awarded to local authorities for their activities for European co-operation and solidarity.
The decision to award the Europe Prize is made by the Committee of Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.

The Prize consists of:
1. A challenge trophy in form of a wooden shield with a bronze plaque on it, decorated with allegorical figures and bearing a Latin inscription. The trophy remains in the winner's possession for a year, until the next winner is selected.
The shield bears the names of all municipalities or other local authorities which have won this distinction so far.
2. A bronze medal, bestowed on the winning municipality to remain its property.
3. A parchment diploma.
4. A scholarship to be spent on a study visit in Europe of young people from the winning municipality.

So far the Prize has been awarded to 56 European local governments. Częstochowa is the first and so far the only local government from Central and Eastern Europe to receive the Grand Prix of the Council of Europe.