Former European Central Bank President and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi was awarded the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize earlier today in Aachen, Germany, one of Europe’s highest political honours recognising contributions to European unity and integration.
During his acceptance speech, Draghi delivered what has increasingly become his characteristic pro-European message: a warning that Europe is entering one of the most dangerous and politically isolated periods in its modern history.
Draghi warned that Europe now faces “hostile international conditions” and argued that the European Union could no longer depend entirely on external powers for its security, industrial capacity or economic stability. He stated that Europe “has never been so alone” and urged European countries to deepen integration, strengthen defence cooperation and invest massively in competitiveness, technology and energy independence.
The speech strongly echoed the themes of Draghi’s report, in which he warned that Europe risked long-term economic decline unless it radically increased industrial investment, innovation spending and strategic autonomy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Draghi, describing him as “Mr Euro” for his role in stabilising the Eurozone during the sovereign debt crisis and preserving the single currency during one of the European Union’s most dangerous financial periods.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde also attended the ceremony and congratulated her predecessor, praising Draghi’s leadership during the Euro crisis and his broader contribution to European integration.
Draghi remains one of the most influential figures within the European establishment. As ECB President, he became internationally famous for his 2012 pledge to do “whatever it takes” to preserve the Euro, a statement widely credited with calming financial markets during the Eurozone debt crisis. He later served as Prime Minister of Italy between 2021 and 2022 during a period of pandemic recovery and political instability. Today, Mario Draghi has become Europe’s intellectual staple with his position in favour of further European unity and integration and to turn Europe into a superpower to navigate hard and volatile times.
The International Charlemagne Prize itself is among Europe’s most prestigious political awards. Established in 1950 by the German city of Aachen, it is awarded annually to individuals who have made exceptional contributions toward European unity, cooperation and integration. Previous recipients include Winston Churchill, Angela Merkel, President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and European Commission itself.
You can watch the full ceremony here.
Newsroom
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