Bonn, Germany - Human rights issues are not adequately discussed in the European Union, former Czech president Vaclav Havel told reporters in Bonn Friday, just before he was handed a 10,000- euro (13,000-dollar) democracy prize.

Havel, 72, said public debate focussed too much on economic topics and not enough on rights and freedoms.

He was in the former German capital to receive the newly created Bonn International Democracy Prize. Erik Bettermann, chief of the broadcaster Deutsche Welle and chairman of the prize society, said the award honoured Havel's commitment to democracy and peace.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier credited Havel with the peaceful fall of communism in his country.

The award is to be given every two years.(dpa)