EU’s Top Honor to be Awarded to Ursula von der Leyen, Expectations of Royal and Governmental Presence
The Karl Prize, a prestigious award in the European Union, will be presented to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 29. The directorium’s chairman, Jürgen Linden, revealed that two prominent speakers are expected to attend the event, including Spanish King Felipe VI and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Linden praised von der Leyen, stating that she has taken a strong leadership role in Europe, emphasizing the need for unity in military strength and support for Ukraine in the war situation. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening the competitiveness of the European Union.
Armin Laschet, Linden’s deputy and former North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President, explained that the prize has traditionally been awarded to individuals who have been under threat, such as the White Russian opposition politician or Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This year, the focus is on the European Union’s core values and the institution’s relevance in the current situation.
Laschet emphasized von der Leyen’s role in holding the 27 member states together, citing the recent sanctions packages that even countries like Hungary and Slovakia have been a part of.
Directorium Chairman Jürgen Linden, an SPD politician, rejected criticism that the prize has been awarded too frequently to conservative politicians in the past, stating that the selection process has become more professional over the years.
However, both Linden and Laschet expressed regret that the prize has not been awarded to some notable figures in the past, such as Willy Brandt, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Helmut Schmidt, or Michail Gorbatschow. They acknowledged that the selection process has improved, with past winners including notable figures like Adenauer, Schuman, Monnet, Kohl, Mitterrand, Merkel and Macron, all of whom have been deserving of the honor.