Brussels 29.05.2025 The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has received this year’s prestigious Emperor Charlemagne Prize for her contributions to Europe and its unification.

🔴🇪🇺ALERTE VIDÉO | 20 ans après le non respect du référendum sur l'Europe, 80 ans après la victoire contre les nazis : Ursula Von Der Leyen reçoit le prix Charlemagne pour l'unification de l'Europe.
Tout un symbole.pic.twitter.com/BMFQbhVbkd

— Jon De Lorraine (@jon_delorraine) May 29, 2025

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The 66-year-old German leader was commended by the jury of the city of Aachen, one upon a time the capital of the Emperor – 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.”

Around 700 people will attend the festivities in the Charlemagne Coronation Hall on today, on Ascension Day. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and King Felipe VI of Spain will give speeches paying tribute to the prize winner.

Von der Leyen, who began her tenure as president of the European Commission in 2019 and was endorsed 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, the war President of Ukraine 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 the war in Ukraine, caused by NATO and the EU Enlargement policies, geopolitical upheaval, economic uncertainty, green transition, and pandemic controversies.

Critics also have pointed to her top-down administrative approach and a dramatic lack of transparency. She has been known for chronic avoidance of journalists, a few, and reduced press conferences, drawing criticism from media and political observers alike. The Members of the European Parliament have been openly pointing to her obstruction of a genuine debate with them, transforming her exchange with the elected representatives of the European citizens into a void pro-forma.

🇬🇧| It's hard to imagine. Today Ursula #Von_der_Leyen is to receive the International #Charlemagne_Prize 2025. Yet the EU President of #Corruption stands for pretty much the opposite of what the Charlemagne Prize originally wanted to honor. No one has ever driven a bigger wedge… pic.twitter.com/vlxGdJcy8a

— Christine Anderson (@AndersonAfDMdEP) May 28, 2025

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Furthermore there was a probe originally opened by Belgian judicial authorities in the city of Liège in early 2023 after a criminal complaint lodged by local lobbyist Frédéric Baldan. He was later joined by the Hungarian and Polish governments — although the latter is in the process of withdrawing its complaint after the election win by a pro-EU government led by Donald Tusk, belonging to the same political family.

Ursula von der Leyen, who called for mandatory vaccination of the entire EU population, as it turns out, is on very warm terms with Pfizer President Albert Burla.
They pursue many of their goals, except for one – there is no concern for our health in this list & there will not be pic.twitter.com/RJGjsr5FnP

— DSimms (@D_M_Simms) December 3, 2021

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Baldan’s complaint is focused at alleged exchange of text messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer boss Albert Bourla which led to 35 billion euro deal vaccine deal at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, in an affair dubbed “Pfizergate.”

Un lobby non-déclaré qui offre 1 million d'euros à Ursula alors qu'elle est toujours en fonction… 🥰

Non, ce n'est pas de la corruption. https://t.co/771GCW3Cy6

— Frédéric BALDAN (@BaldanFrederic) May 28, 2025

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On May 14 the EU Court of Justice has ruled that the European Commission violated transparency rules by failing to grant access to text messages between Ursula von der Leyen and the CEO of pharma giant Pfizer Albert Bourla.

In a long-awaited judgement in the so-called ‘Pfizergate’ scandal, the General Court of the EU in Luxembourg concluded that the Commission “has not given a plausible explanation to justify” its dismissal of the public request to access the texts.

The case stems from a 2023 complaint filed by The New York Times after the Commission refused to release text messages exchanged between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

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