Overview
- The Karlspreis committee named the former ECB president and ex‑Italian prime minister as the 2026 laureate, highlighting his 2012 “whatever it takes” pledge and his role in stabilizing Italy.
- Committee chair Armin Laschet presented the decision as an appeal to EU heads of government and the European Commission to implement Draghi’s recommendations on competitiveness.
- Draghi’s 2024 report submitted to Brussels urges measures to boost growth and innovation so the EU can keep pace with the United States and China.
- The committee described Europe’s situation as dramatic and warned that the bloc must strengthen competitiveness to safeguard its capacity to act.
- The prize will be presented on May 14 at Aachen’s historic town hall and now includes a €1 million endowment dedicated to pro‑European projects.