Mario Draghi, the former President of the European Central Bank (ECB), was awarded the International Charlemagne Prize in the coronation hall of Aachen City Hall. The prize recognizes Draghi’s lifetime achievements and significant contributions to Europe, particularly during the Euro financial crisis.
In his keynote speech, Friedrich Merz emphasized Draghi’s critical role during the debt crisis of 2012. Merz stated, “You took care of the Euro in a threatening time, and you stabilized the Euro and the currency zone.” He highlighted that Draghi’s bold actions during this period were crucial for the stability of the currency.
At that time, Draghi had declared that the ECB would do “whatever it takes” to save the Euro. These words calmed the nervous financial markets and helped keep Greece in the Eurozone. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who also delivered a speech, praised Draghi’s confidence in Greece during the crisis.
The Charlemagne Prize has been awarded since 1950 to individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to Europe. Previous laureates include the late Pope Francis and former US Bill Clinton.
