International Charlemagne PrizeSpurring us all on for the Europe of tomorrow

What do Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, Angela Merkel, the euro and the people of Luxembourg have in common? They’re all past winners of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen (Internationaler Karlspreis) whose award ceremony, each May, draws monarchs, presidents, heads of government and people of clerical and academic renown to our city year after year.

The International Charlemagne Prize

  • awarded since 1949
  • donated by the citizens of Aachen
  • named after the Emperor Charlemagne
  • awarded each year on Ascension Day

This is an award which refuses to bow the knee to modern fashionable hype surrounding the “Grammies” and such like. (Even Oscars are won each year by a lot of people for a lot of things that are instantly forgotten). The Charlemagne Prize honours only that which will remain, whether it be political, cultural or academic in nature – services to Europe, promoting unity and the bringing-together of this western continent which, for centuries, has suffered from borders and wars.

Bringing about the ongoing peaceful convergence of Europe is the job of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and EU summits – those are the professionals, the great and good, the responsible heavyweights often burdened by the heavy weight of responsibility. But the burning challenge of unity, as described once by the first ever Charlemagne Prize-winner, Count Richard Coudenhove-Calergie, is something for everyone – especially for young people, whose hard work and commitment is celebrated each year by the “Charlemagne Youth Prize”.

For this reason, the European Science Parliament sits in Aachen once every two years. Students and schoolchildren from EU countries discuss current affairs with experts and ratify what is known as the “Aachen Declaration” addressed to the European Parliament and with the vision of a Europe not governed, but moved forward, by its politicians.

This remains the watchword for our “old” continent whose ideas and impetus the globalised world awaits. The task facing the European city of Aachen is to remember the past, care for the present and shape the future. That’s why the Charlemagne Prize is as relevant today as it was 60 years ago.

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External links

The Charlemagne PrizeThe International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen – history and laureates The Charlemagne Prize on Wikipedia Medaille CharlemagneMedia prize for European integration (German and French) Europe DirectInformation on the Aachen office of the European Union (German only) European Science ParliamentInternet portal with discussion forum The EUThe European Union’s internet portal Aachen in Europe(German only) The European Foundation for Aachen Cathedral(German only)