Latest news with #Aachen
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
EU chief calls for 'independent Europe' amid global turmoil
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called for a "truly independent Europe" at a time of seismic change on the world stage, as she received the International Charlemagne Prize on Thursday. Accepting the award in the German city of Aachen, she urged "a new form of Pax Europaea for the 21st century, one that is shaped and managed by Europe itself". The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen has been awarded since 1950 to individuals or institutions that have made outstanding contributions to Europe and European unification. "What we once relied on as an international order has rapidly descended into an international disorder," von der Leyen said. She pointed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine that shattered old certainties after decades in which the US-led Nato alliance had "led to a form of complacency among us". "We thought we could rely on a peace dividend," she said about the post-Cold War era when European defence spending dropped off. "But these times are over," she said, warning that "the world is again marked by imperial ambitions and imperial wars". "Adversaries of our open democratic societies have rearmed and remobilised," she said. "There is no greater example of that than (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's brutal and ruthless war against Ukraine." Pointing to moves by the EU and member states to pour hundreds of billions of euros into defence spending, she said "times are changing and Europe with it". "We are doing this to put everything into defending peace," said the European Commission chief. "A new international order will emerge in this decade. If we do not want to simply accept the consequences this will have for Europe and the world, we must shape this new order." She added that "history does not forgive either dithering or delaying. Our mission is European independence." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office in early May, vowed at the awards ceremony that "Germany is committed to this strong, united Europe". "We will not stand on the sidelines when it comes to preserving and strengthening freedom and democracy, the rule of law, and human dignity on our continent." Merz said "the Germans are ready to take far-reaching decisions at the Nato summit in June, decisions that do justice to Europe's responsibility for its own security." Berlin has earlier signalled it supports a plan to raise defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and security-related infrastructure outlays to 1.5 per cent.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Ursula von der Leyen honored with award for contributions to European unity
BERLIN — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received the International Charlemagne Prize, an annual award for contributions to European unity, on Thursday as the 27-nation bloc confronts Russia's war against Ukraine, the Trump administration's trade war and security issues across the continent. The European Union's most high-profile political figure, von der Leyen was called 'the embodiment of the European spirit' by King Felipe VI of Spain during Thursday's ceremony in Aachen, Germany. Last year, European Parliament lawmakers reelected her to a second five-year term as president of the EU's powerful executive arm. Even if the European Commission's makeup has hardly become the talk of bar rooms or barber shops across the vast EU of 450 million people, it has enthralled the upper echelons of politics and bureaucracy, as they sought to boost one candidate or undermine another. The commission proposes legislation for the EU's 27 member countries and ensures that the rules governing the world's biggest trading bloc are respected. It's made up of a College of Commissioners with a range of portfolios similar to those of government ministers, including agriculture, economic, competition, security and migration policy. After coming to office in 2019, von der Leyen led the EU drive to secure COVID-19 vaccines and has been a major supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia. With governments weakened in France and Germany at the time, she sought to play a greater role in the bloc's affairs.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ursula von der Leyen honored with award for contributions to European unity
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received the International Charlemagne Prize, an annual award for contributions to European unity, on Thursday as the 27-nation bloc confronts Russia 's war against Ukraine, the Trump administration's trade war and security issues across the continent. The European Union's most high-profile political figure, von der Leyen was called "the embodiment of the European spirit' by King Felipe VI of Spain during Thursday's ceremony in Aachen, Germany. Last year, European Parliament lawmakers reelected her to a second five-year term as president of the EU's powerful executive arm. Even if the European Commission's makeup has hardly become the talk of bar rooms or barber shops across the vast EU of 450 million people, it has enthralled the upper echelons of politics and bureaucracy, as they sought to boost one candidate or undermine another. The commission proposes legislation for the EU's 27 member countries and ensures that the rules governing the world's biggest trading bloc are respected. It's made up of a College of Commissioners with a range of portfolios similar to those of government ministers, including agriculture, economic, competition, security and migration policy. After coming to office in 2019, von der Leyen led the EU drive to secure COVID-19 vaccines and has been a major supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia. With governments weakened in France and Germany at the time, she sought to play a greater role in the bloc's affairs.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Ursula von der Leyen honored with award for contributions to European unity
BERLIN (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received the International Charlemagne Prize, an annual award for contributions to European unity, on Thursday as the 27-nation bloc confronts Russia's war against Ukraine, the Trump administration's trade war and security issues across the continent. The European Union's most high-profile political figure, von der Leyen was called 'the embodiment of the European spirit' by King Felipe VI of Spain during Thursday's ceremony in Aachen, Germany. Last year, European Parliament lawmakers reelected her to a second five-year term as president of the EU's powerful executive arm. Even if the European Commission's makeup has hardly become the talk of bar rooms or barber shops across the vast EU of 450 million people, it has enthralled the upper echelons of politics and bureaucracy, as they sought to boost one candidate or undermine another. The commission proposes legislation for the EU's 27 member countries and ensures that the rules governing the world's biggest trading bloc are respected. It's made up of a College of Commissioners with a range of portfolios similar to those of government ministers, including agriculture, economic, competition, security and migration policy. After coming to office in 2019, von der Leyen led the EU drive to secure COVID-19 vaccines and has been a major supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia. With governments weakened in France and Germany at the time, she sought to play a greater role in the bloc's affairs.
