Charlemagne Prize Awarded to Ursula von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was awarded this year’s Charlemagne Prize for her vision of a unified Europe, Euronews reported on Wednesday.

The prize has been awarded annually for the last 75 years by the city of Aachen, where Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in a.d. 800. He was considered the first unifier of Europe. The prize is given to those who “defend European unity.”

Qualifications: Von der Leyen posted on X that the award “deeply touches” her and called Europe a “reliable anchor in turbulent times.”

On July 16, 2019, the day she was voted in as European Commission president, she said:

[T]here is only one option for me: to unite and strengthen Europe.

Anyone that is with me in wanting to see Europe grow stronger and to flourish and blossom can count on me as a fervent supporter. However, anyone that wants to weaken or divide Europe or rob it of its values will find in me a bitter opponent.

This statement, spoken in the spirit of Charlemagne, is worthy of his namesake prize. In the November-December 2016 Trumpet issue, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote: “The Germans have empire on their mind. The Holy Roman Empire is interested in ruling the world.“

Learn more: Read Mr. Flurry’s article “The Spirit of Charlemagne Is Alive in Europe.”