30/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - Carl Budenbacher, the President of the EFTA Court, has received the Small States' Prize from the Herbert Batliner Europe Institute in Salzburg. It was the third time that the prize has been awarded - the two previous prizes were awarded to Estonian President Lenart Meri and the President of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia, Jordi Pujol. Carl Budenbacher has been the Liechtenstein judge at the EFTA Court (which consists of Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway, with Switzerland having observer status) since 1995. Presenting him with the prize, Erhard Busek, Special Coordinator for the Stability Pact for South East Europe, noted in particular, according to a communication, that the case-law of the EFTA Court gives inspiration to the Court of Justice of the European Communities in important cases.