Von der Leyen receives Charlemagne Prize: Europe needs more cohesion!

Von der Leyen receives Charlemagne Prize: Europe needs more cohesion!

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, will be awarded the International Charlemagne Prize in Aachen on Thursday. exxpress.at emphasizes that the honor is given for its role as a “strong voice of Europe in the world” and for representing the interests of the EU. The Charlemagne Prize has been awarded for services to European unification for 75 years; Important prize winners in recent years include Winston Churchill, Angela Merkel and Pope Francis.

The prize includes a certificate and a gold medal and is named after Emperor Charlemagne, who is considered the “Father of Europe”. King Felipe VI from Spain opened the award ceremony with a speech in which he called for “more Europe” and vehemently spoke out against a reversal of the EU. According to WDR, he emphasizes that separate national communities harm the well-being of Europeans and that 27 countries must work together to effectively address global challenges.

European unity and challenges

In her speech in the coronation hall of the Aachen town hall, von der Leyen expressed her deep connection to the European idea. She warns against carelessness in the EU and points to the war against Ukraine, which she sees as an example of the threats Europe faces. “We must invest in our security to defend peace,” she explains. She also expresses concern about the resurgence of extremist parties in Europe, as highlighted by Tagesschau.

Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor and guest speaker, highlighted von der Leyen's achievements and described her as a “strong representative of a strong Europe”. He emphasized that the awarding of the Charlemagne Prize to von der Leyen was “highly deserved” and recalled that there are increasing new tensions in the international space. Merz announces that Germany will support Ukraine militarily, politically and economically and that far-reaching decisions will be made at the upcoming NATO summit in June.

Effects of the Charlemagne Prize

The Charlemagne Prize is endowed with one million euros, and the prize money is to be used for pro-European projects that are determined in consultation with the prize winners. This is seen by WDR as a sign of support for the values ​​and principles of European cooperation. In addition, the Ukrainian embassy in Berlin denied reports that President Zelensky had canceled his participation in the awards ceremony due to the threat of a Russian offensive.

In summary, the event in Aachen shows not only the recognition of von der Leyen's achievements, but also the challenges that Europe is currently facing and the need to respond in a united and strong manner. The Charlemagne Prize remains an important symbol of international understanding and ongoing European cooperation.