LONDON

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has received this year’s prestigious Charlemagne Prize for her contributions to Europe and its unification.

The 66-year-old German leader was commended by the jury as the "strong voice of Europe in the world" and an "exceptional figure of a united Europe, whose visionary, courageous and dynamic leadership is guiding the Union through times of profound change."

Von der Leyen, who began her tenure as president of the European Commission in 2019 and was re-elected to a second term in 2024 by the European Parliament, joins the ranks of previous laureates such as Winston Churchill, Konrad Adenauer, Paul-Henri Spaak and, more recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Charlemagne Prize, awarded annually in the German city of Aachen, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to European unity.

Von der Leyen’s leadership during a period marked by geopolitical upheaval, economic uncertainty and a green transition was highlighted as central to her selection.

However, her leadership has not been without controversy.

Critics have pointed to her top-down approach and lack of transparency. She has been known to grant few one-on-one interviews and often keeps her press conferences brief, drawing criticism from media and political observers alike