Overview

• Von der Leyen was honored as a “strong voice of Europe” for uniting the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
• In her acceptance speech at Aachen’s town hall she called for building an “independent Europe” to safeguard freedom amid rising global rivalries.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz and King Felipe VI praised her leadership while reaffirming Germany’s and Spain’s support for EU unity and Ukraine.
• The prize, endowed with €1 million for the first time this year, will fund projects benefiting Ukrainian children as agreed with the Charlemagne Prize Directorate.
• Protests by environmental, human rights and anti-war groups in Aachen targeted her defense, migration and Green Deal policies during the ceremony.