Merkel receives Charlemagne Prize for promoting European unity

French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel as she received the prestigious Charlemagne Prize for European leadership. He said she had taught him patience.

European leaders gathered in the German city of Aachen on Thursday, May 1, to pay tribute to Merkel’s contributions to European unity.

For her part, Merkel reminded Europeans of the progress the continent has made.

[...]Among those on the guest list Thursday were Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and King Juan Carlos of Spain.

The European leadership prize, awarded since 1950 in Aachen, a near the Belgian and French border, is named after the Emperor Charlemagne (768-814) who united a vast region of Europe from France to northern Germany.

The prize comprises a cash award of 5,000 euros ($7,700) and a medal. Previous winners include former US president Bill Clinton (2000). Last year the award went to EU foreign policy supremo Javier Solana.

Read the article: Deutsche Welle, 1 May 2008