A City Of Refuge

THE CHARLEMAGNE PRIZE:
WHAT IS IT?

The Charlemagne Prize (German: Karlspreis; full name originally Internationaler Karlspreis der Stadt Aachen, International Charlemagne Prize of the City of Aachen, since 1988 Internationaler Karlspreis zu Aachen, International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen) is a European prize. It has been awarded annually since 1950 by the German city of Aachen to people who contributed to the UNITY OF EUROPE.
It commemorates Charlemagne, ruler of the Frankish Empire and founder of what became the Holy Roman Empire, who resided and is buried at Aachen. Traditionally the award is given to the recipient on Ascension Day in a ceremony in the town hall of Aachen. In April 2008, the organisers of the Charlemagne Prize and the European Parliament jointly created a new European Charlemagne Youth Prize, which recognises contributions by young people towards the process of European integration.

POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES THE CHARLEMAGNE PRIZE:

 ANGELA MERKEL (FOR EUROPE'S MESS!!)

Angela Merkel awarded the Charlemagne Prize

The annual Charlemagne Prize was awarded in Aachen on 30 April to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her work to unite Europe.

European Voice

By Mark Latham

5/1/08, 11:37 AM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 3:26 PM CET

Speaking at the prize ceremony, José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, described Merkel as a “woman of conviction” and said that working alongside her during Germany’s presidency of the EU in the first half of 2007 had been an experience of “extraordinary intensity”.