Charlemagne Prize

Traditionally the award is given to the recipient on Ascension Day in a ceremony in the Aachen Town Hall.

[1] On 19 December 1949, Kurt Pfeiffer [de] presented to the reading group "Corona Legentium Aquensis", which he had founded, his proposals for the prize: "We have the honour of proposing annual presentation of an international prize for the most valuable contribution in the services of Western European understanding and work for the community, and in the services of humanity and world peace.

The first Charlemagne Prize was awarded to Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, the founder of the Pan-European Movement.

Following the presentation of the award to the Italian Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi in 1952, the International Charlemagne Prize of the City of Aachen has repeatedly sent messages going far beyond Germany and promoting the "unity of Europe".

They continue that it has been awarded to founding fathers of a United Europe such as de Gasperi, Schuman, Monnet and Adenauer, and to those who have embodied hope for integration such as Edward Heath, Konstantinos Karamanlis, and His Majesty Juan Carlos I.

The mediaeval city seal of Aachen on which the design of the prize medal is based
The city hall of Aachen
After awarding the Charlemagne Prize 2015 to Martin Schulz , the dignitaries met on stage at Aachen Katschhof [ de ] . From left to right can be seen: Bernd Büttgens (official spokesman of the city of Aachen), Armin Laschet ( Parliamentary group leader of the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia), François Hollande ( President of France ), Martin Schulz ( President of the European Parliament ), Joachim Gauck ( President of Germany ), Felipe VI ( King of Spain), Petro Poroshenko ( President of Ukraine ), Sauli Niinistö ( President of Finland ), Simonetta Sommaruga ( President of Switzerland ), Hannelore Kraft ( Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia ), Jürgen Linden (Speaker of the board of directors of the Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aachen).