On the day before the Charlemagne Prize is awarded to the President of the European Commission, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, the Charlemagne Prize Europe Forum 2025 will take place in Aachen on Wednesday, May 28. The conference, organized by the Charlemagne Prize Foundation together with the Federal Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR), is entitled: "New Independence - Europe without the USA?" and offers a top-class programme.

Thematic focus

In the morning, speakers will include Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, the 2024 Charlemagne Prize winner, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), FDP Secretary General Nicole Büttner-Thiel and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, on the topics of European sovereignty and the EU's ability to defend itself.

Speakers in the afternoon will include Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investment Union, Frank Koch, CEO of the Swiss Steel Group, Daniel Quinten, President of the EACB and member of the Board of the Federal Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR), Sabine Verheyen, First Vice-President of the European Parliament, and young Members of the European Parliament, who will discuss the economic and social competitiveness of the EU.

The designated Charlemagne Prize Laureate 2025, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, will also visit the Charlemagne Prize Europe Forum.

New formats

The forum will be enriched by new formats: Together with the Munich Security Conference, the "Zeitenwende on tour" initiative is coming to Aachen - with exclusive impulses on Europe's security policy future. The public is cordially invited to actively participate and take part in the Forum in this context (registration: https://karlspreis.events ).

Visitors can also look forward to an interactive youth format in cooperation with the European Parliament, which will take a look at the perspectives of the next generation.

The forum will take place on May 28, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the conference center DAS LIEBIG, Liebigstraße 19, Aachen.

The complete program is available on the Internet at https://www.karlspreis.de/de/veranstaltungen/karlspreis-europa-forum

Participation is only possible after prior registration at events@karlspreis.de, as accreditation is required for security reasons.

Contact:

Karina Blommen

Foundation International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen

blommen@karlspreis.de