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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been awarded the Charlemagne Prize 2025 in recognition of her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
The prize is awarded annually by the German city of Aachen – where the Frankish king for whom it is named was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 – to honour “an outstanding personality of a united Europe”. The announcement highlights von der Leyen’s leadership during “times of profound transformation” in the EU, including her handling of the pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine and her commitment to the Green Deal. The award’s board of directors praised her vision for a sustainable, competitive, and unified Europe, describing her as a strong advocate for European values on the global stage. They noted that, under her leadership, the Commission has played a decisive role in ensuring the EU’s unity and success in addressing crises of historic proportions. Von der Leyen is the second Commission president to receive the prize while in office, following Jacques Delors in 1992. Former Commission leaders honoured include Robert Schuman in 1958, Roy Jenkins in 1972 and Jean-Claude Juncker in 2006. She will officially receive the award at a ceremony in Aachen’s Town Hall on 29 May.
