Spanish king urges 'more Europe' at Charlemagne Prize award ceremony
Spanish King Felipe VI has firmly rejected calls to dismantle the European Union, warning against the rise of "dangerous and misguided voices" advocating for a return to isolated national politics.
The king made the comments on Thursday during a speech at the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony in Aachen, Germany.
"We need to confront them! Dangerous and misguided voices that argue that Europeans will be freer, more independent and sovereign if they inhabit separate national political communities and work alone to address global challenges," he said.
"The international environment - I strongly believe - calls for more Europe. It is now, truly, the time for Europe. Not for a more 'euro-centric' vision of the world," he added.
The Charlemagne Prize is widely regarded as the most prestigious honour for contributions to European unity.
This year's recipient, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was praised by the award committee for "keeping Europe united, resilient and capable of action."
The award ceremony is taking place in the city hall of Aachen, an ancient city on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands linked to the 8th/9th century European emperor, Charlemagne.
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