The European Commission’s web portal published: Speech by the President: International Charlemagne Prize. We recall the speech.
The speech by President von der Leyen at the award ceremony of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen:
Esteemed laureates of the Charlemagne Prize,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Europe is my life. And it is the greatest honour of my life to stand here before you all today. I want to start by thanking His Majesty King Felipe and Chancellor Merz from the bottom of my heart. Their words breathe the spirit of the Charlemagne Prize. And this prize – this city – stands out as a symbol of a united Europe. There is so much in Aachen which speaks to our culture and history. To Europe’s outstanding beauty – and to our tragic struggles. To our many renaissances and our rise from the ashes. The miracle of Europe – the reunification of people, history and destiny – is etched in this city. And being here since yesterday has afforded me the rare luxury of calmly reflecting on that and its wider meaning. On where Europe has come from and what it is today. And even more importantly about where we are heading in this historically tense period. There are three monuments here, in the centre of Aachen. They speak powerfully about history and the importance of Europe.
The first is the Aachen Cathedral. I was allowed to attend a special mass this morning. Looking up at the Palatine Chapel, you feel the weight of history, in what was the heart of power in Europe in the 9th century. What a place! What an impact! The Cathedral truly stands out as a testament to the spiritual, cultural and political renaissance of Europe sparked by Charlemagne’s vision. His idea of Europe was about creating a space where science and culture, education and justice would flourish. Where people pursue knowledge and common values. He believed that Europe’s future should be built on the foundations of its past. Just like the Palatine Chapel itself – inspired by Byzantine, Roman and classical art but designed for the modern day. In the same way that our future will always be built on our past. Culture and knowledge. History and values. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what Europe means to me.
The second place in Aachen which is crucial to understanding Europe is one that no longer stands. Exactly 100 years ago – in May 1925 – the Old Synagogue of Aachen saw a young lady start her married life. A young woman full of hope for the future. Edith Holländer. Edith Holländer and her family were part of the relatively small but thriving Jewish community of Aachen. But it was only a few years later that the old synagogue would be destroyed and burned to the ground during the Kristallnacht. A dark and violent precursor of what would follow. Only about 25 Jewish survivors returned to Aachen after the war. Edith Holländer was not one of them. She and her husband, Otto, had escaped to the Netherlands shortly after the seizure of power. And it was from there – in Amsterdam – that her youngest daughter, Anne, started writing a diary during the war. That diary – The Diary of Anne Frank – became a testimony to the life of an adolescent girl, caught between hope and fear, backed into a corner, hidden from the Nazis, threatened with imprisonment and death. And even to this day, it tells us much about the nature of humanity itself. Let me quote a sentence of Anne Frank’s that touched me deeply as a young student. And today it makes an even greater impression on me. She writes: ‘And yet when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty will end, and peace and tranquillity will return once more. In the meantime, I must hold on to my ideals. Perhaps the day will come when I will be able to realise them.’ Of course, neither Anne nor her sister Margot or Edith Holländer herself would ever get that chance. Today Aachen has a new synagogue. A symbol of rebirth but also of remembrance. A sharp reminder for Europe to be vigilant and uncompromising towards all those who seek to sow hatred and division in our society. It is a road that Europe knows only too well. We know it to be one that inevitably leads to ruin. Never, ever may we go down that path again. For me, those words of Anne Frank are a lesson in humanity. A duty never to forget and the task of building a society in which every child can realise their dreams and ideals. This is also what Europe means to me. Now and forever.
The third place I want to talk about is this very town hall we are in today. Here, 75 years ago, the European pioneer Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi was the first to be awarded the Charlemagne Prize medal. He also had a vision of Europe: a Europe bringing people together through shared culture and values, through freedom and human dignity. A Europe inspired by big ideas and big ambitions. And by and large the history of the last 75 years has proven him right. The generation of the founding fathers and mothers of our Union sought to create peace and security in a continent ravaged by war. The generation that followed strove to lay the foundations for common prosperity through the Single Market and later the single currency. And for the generation of 1989, it was about freedom and reunifying Europe. Peace and prosperity. Freedom and unity. Ladies and gentlemen, this too, is what Europe means to me.
But the real reason I have started with these three symbols is because they tell us something about what it means to be a European. And what that means for our future. They show us that our history – brutal and beautiful in equal measure – binds us together as Europeans and as generations. We share not only common dreams but also common nightmares. And that binds us together. And for me personally, they show how deeply the yearning for renewal and renaissance is ingrained in who we are. As Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi once said: ‘The essence of Europe is the will to change and improve the world through action. It is in a state of constant emancipation, reformation, revolution.’ And as I look at the unstable world around us, I believe that Europe must rediscover this spirit. The spirit of boldness, action and renewal. It is time for Europe to rise up once again. To rally around the next great European project. Thus, I believe that our next great era – the next great unifying project – is about building an independent Europe.
Dear friends: an independent Europe. I know that for some this is an uncomfortable message to hear. But at its core, this is about our freedom. As the people of central and eastern Europe have long known, personal liberty is possible only when there is collective independence. We must face the reality of the moment. We cannot sit idly by as upheaval unfolds. We cannot allow ourselves to be thrown off course by the seismic changes that we are facing. Or once again fall for the fallacy that the storm will pass. That things will go back to how they were before – if only the war would end, or a tariff deal be struck, or the next elections have a different outcome. No, they will not. Because the geopolitical cross-currents are strong. What we once relied on as an international order has rapidly descended into an international disorder. The world is again marked by imperial ambitions and imperial wars. By authoritarian powers ready to mercilessly exploit our divisions or dependencies. By major powers ready to utilise all means – fair or foul – to gain an advantage. For too long, too many of us thought these kinds of events were consigned to the history books. That this truly exceptional period that saw the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall come down – and entire nations and people set free – was a new norm. But if you look at the history of our continent, this is more likely to be the exception that confirms the rule. So this is a fundamental choice that we face here. Do we try to wait it out or take measures just for the immediate crisis? Do we simply accept what is supposedly our fate? Or do we take things into our own hands and decide our future for ourselves? A future that is free from coercion and aggression. One that ensures that the next generations are able to live the European dream our founders fought so hard for. A Union that is open to the world. A Union that strikes partnerships and alliances to boost our security and economy. A Union that respects the natural foundations of life. A Union that stands up for its values and interests on the global stage. A Union that provides stability across Europe.
And when I say Europe, I of course mean our Union. But I also mean doing this together with our friends and partners across the continent. From the Western Balkans to Ukraine and Moldova. From Greenland to the United Kingdom and beyond. We have a duty to provide that stability on our continent and a perspective for the future together.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Building an independent Europe will require us to cast off our shackles. To rid ourselves of the fear of change that at times has held us back in the past. Instead, it will require us to show the same ambition, unity and vigour as in recent years. We have shown that we can act fast and as one. In the pandemic. On overcoming its economic consequences. On protecting nature and the climate. On energy security. On support for Ukraine. The list goes on. I have lost count of the number of times that I was told that this could not be done. That the Member States would not support it. That we would be too slow or too divided. But every single time Europe stood up. Every single time, Europe delivered in the face of all adversity. And I believe that we need to replicate this spirit. And in order to do so, we must concentrate on four key imperatives to build a truly independent Europe.
The first is to develop a new form of Pax Europaea for the 21st century – one that is shaped and managed by Europe itself. We all know the vital role that NATO and our transatlantic partners have played in protecting our security and freedom on our continent. And this will continue in future. But thanks to NATO we perhaps thought that times of relative peace were here to stay. The Baltic countries, Poland, and the countries of central and eastern Europe warned us. Their fight for freedom from Soviet oppression confronted them with hardships many others had forgotten. And we know this led to a form of complacency among us – we thought we could rely on a peace dividend. But these times are over. Adversaries of our open democratic societies have rearmed and remobilised. There is no greater example of that than Putin’s brutal and ruthless war against Ukraine. Russia and others will continue to scale up their war economy. The need to invest in our security is therefore becoming ever more urgent. And we know that this investment will not come from anywhere else. Times are changing – and Europe with it. The fact that we are now providing up to EUR 800 billion for defence would have been impossible just a few years ago. The fact that Member States are raising their defence spending to historic highs would also have been unthinkable. We are doing this to put everything into defending peace.
A new international order will emerge in this decade. If we do not want to simply accept the consequences this will have for Europe and the world, we must shape this new order. History does not forgive either dithering or delaying. Our mission is European independence.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The second priority is to put innovation and competitiveness at the heart of Europe’s renewal. Europe has all it takes to lead the global economy of tomorrow. A Single Market that opens opportunities to succeed and grow. A successful model of a social market economy that forms the basis for prosperity and quality of life. Unique talents and outstanding skilled workers. Internationally recognised education systems and universities. Our universities must be magnets for excellence. And the odds of realising this vision look good. An enormous pool of private capital is awaiting investment. A stable environment for businesses is our trademark. We are a leader in many research fields that will shape the future. And we have an industry brimming with know-how and inventiveness. But we also know that there are so many areas where we need to catch up fast if we want to thrive in the fierce winds of global competition. We have a master plan to bring that to life. A master plan that puts investing in innovation, AI and new technologies at the heart of our business model. A master plan that cares for the environment, for natural resources, and the health of future generations. A master plan that reignites our European industrial traditions. And that makes it easier to attract investment, start a small business and scale it up right here in Europe. Simpler, faster and more agile. We want the business world to Choose Europe. We are witnessing countries from around the world come to us to do business together – because we are reliable and follow common rules. From India to Indonesia. From South America to South Korea. From Canada to New Zealand. Of course, we want to put our trading partnership with the US back on a stronger footing. We will always work towards that. But we also know that 87% of global trade is with other countries who are all looking for stability and opportunity. And Europe can offer that. And that is why there is such great interest to Choose Europe. Because an independent Europe will never be an insular continent – but always open and always ready to engage with the world.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The third imperative for an independent Europe is working on the next historical reunification of our continent. Welcoming the countries of Europe who have made a free choice to join our Union. This is not just a moral necessity for Europe. It is a prerequisite for a stronger Europe – at home and geopolitically in the world. A larger, reunified European Union will strengthen our voice in the world. It will help reduce our dependencies. It will ensure that democracy, prosperity and stability are strengthened across Europe. Of course, accession will always be a merit-based process. But I am convinced that history is calling us now. Just as it did in 1989, when the winds of change swept across Europe. We see every day in Ukraine what fighting for freedom means. We have seen the sacrifices people are willing to make for the last three and a half years. So yes, this is a historic moment. And we must not let it pass us by. We must answer that call. For Ukraine. For the Western Balkans. For Moldova. Hopefully for Georgia. For all those who have made their choice. For a free and peaceful future inside our Union. For a stronger and independent Europe.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The fourth imperative underpins all of the others. And that is to renew and strengthen our democracy. We all know that our democracies have come under attack – with concerted efforts from external adversaries, but also by attempts to erode it from within. We have to fight back against these threats and tendencies. For many people in Europe, life without democracy is still a lived experience. For many in our Union, it is still fresh in their minds. I am of course thinking of those who lived under the oppression of the Soviet Regime. But also those who suffered at the hands of dictatorships in Greece, Spain, Portugal or elsewhere. Our modern democracies are still young. Democracy is not carved in stone. It must be reinvigorated every day. And history shows that it can be destroyed much faster than it is built. When I see the rise of extremist parties or illiberal tendencies across Europe, it concerns me. This is a trend – and not just a passing one. And far stronger than this concern, is the obligation to protect, strengthen and preserve our democracies. And that is exactly what we are doing. I do not believe in complaining about people who vote for extremes. No, it is up to us to make a stronger argument. It is up to us to understand the reasons for their miscontent. Many have concerns over the way irregular migration is handled. About the cost of living or the cost of housing. The excessive bureaucracy in everyday life. We do not defend our democracy by defending the status quo. We must be the drivers of change. It is only by showing that democracy works for people and that it delivers, that we can create a stronger Union. Europe can only thrive if democracy thrives. For me, this is both a motivation and an obligation.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I started this speech by saying Europe was my life. When I was a child at the European School in Brussels, Europe for me was the most simple and wonderful of things. We had sport with the Dutch kids. Art with the Italians. Geography with the French. I would look wide eyed at all these different people and activities. These different languages. But I also understood that we were all in the same place – all connected to one another. A few decades may have passed, but I still see Europe through those same eyes. And I believe that this connection between us – as diverse and different as we are – that is what Europe is. I marvel when I think that almost 17 million young Europeans have studied in a different part of Europe thanks to the Erasmus programme. Another 17 million are currently working and studying abroad. That is more than the entire population of Charlemagne’s Empire. I dream of a Union where every single young person has the chance to study or work in another European country. Or simply to take a train ticket to discover our cities or our natural beauties. To follow the Danube as it winds through country after country. Or discover the wild treasures of the Carpathian Mountains, the endless beaches of Dalmatia or the depths of the Black Forest. To learn from others. Everyone should be able to experience what makes Europe so unique. To see it with their own eyes. Because this is our greatest strength. And it must remain the foundation of our Union. Whenever our cultures have come together, Europe has created wonders. Like when Goethe journeyed to Italy, drawn by the ancient light that shaped the European soul. Or when the best researchers in the world gather at CERN, to unravel the secrets of the universe.
And yet the encounter of these cultures can never be taken for granted. For centuries, our nations have waged war against one another. For decades, the ties between the two halves of our continent were severed. And still today, there are those who work tirelessly to set us against each other. It is our mission to ensure that people feel that our individual traditions and identities are part of a larger whole. And that precisely this is the core of our European identity. Another winner of the Charlemagne Prize, the brilliant Timothy Garton Ash, once wrote: ‘Identity is a mix of the cards we are dealt, but also what we make of them.’ So we can choose to focus on what sets us apart. Or we can make our differences the foundation for a stronger European home. Weave our different stories into a common future. We are all proud children of our countries. But our roots do not stop at national borders. Our souls have been shaped by the tales and experiences of our fellow Europeans. We are not only Italian, French or German. Not only Swedish or Spanish. Not only Portuguese or Polish. We are European. This empathy, this solidarity, this culture. This is what makes us Europeans. And this is what makes me look to the future of our Union with resolve and optimism. This is the legacy we must pass on to our children. Because we have inherited it from those who went before us. And it is up to us to make it our independent Europe. I feel incredibly honoured to receive this Charlemagne Prize.
Long live Europe.
Source: ec.europa.eu