Von der Leyen makes the case for European independence
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was presented with the International Charlemagne Prize in Aachen – and used the stage to make an appeal.
Aachen (dpa/d.de) - EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Foto) called for the independence of Europe when receiving the international Charlemagne Prize in Aachen City Hall. The world is once again being shaped by imperial powers and imperial wars: “by great powers that are prepared to use all means, fair and foul, to gain an advantage.” The need to invest in European security is therefore felt to be even more urgent. “Our job is to ensure European independence”, said von der Leyen.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Spain’s King Felipe VI also spoke at the award ceremony.
The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen is considered to be the most important award for services to European unity. The Charlemagne Prize Committee paid tribute to von der Leyen as “the strong voice of Europe in the world”. Ursula von der Leyen has requested that the Charlemagne Prize money of one million euros, awarded for the first time this year, be use to fund projects benefiting Ukrainian children.