European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will receive this year's Charlemagne Prize for her contributions to Europe and its unification, organisers announced on Wednesday.
The 66-year-old German national is praised by the jury as the "strong voice of Europe in the world" and an "exceptional figure of a united Europe, whose visionary, courageous and dynamic leadership is guiding the Union through times of profound change."
The jury also commended her ability to secure a clear pro-European majority after last June's elections, despite the rise of europhobes and eurosceptics.
Previous recipients include Winston Churchill, Konrad Adenauer, Paul-Henri Spaak, and more recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The last Belgian awardee was former President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy in 2014.
"This award deeply moves me, as it embodies a Europe that is our secure anchor in these turbulent times," responded the laureate on social media, while recovering from severe pneumonia.
She assumed leadership of the European Union in 2019, focusing on carbon neutrality by 2050 and the digital transition. She has represented Europe in responding to the Covid-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine and was re-elected last year for a second term centred on competitiveness and defence.
In 2022, Forbes named her the world's most influential woman. Before her European role, the German Christian Democrat held several ministerial positions under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, including Defence Minister. Born in Brussels, where she spent part of her youth, she is a trained physician.
The Charlemagne Prize has been awarded since 1950 by the city of Aachen (Germany) which was the centre of power for Emperor Charlemagne (768-814), considered by some as a founding father of Europe. The award ceremony will take place on 29 May at Aachen City Hall.
