North Rhine-Westphalia "Super Mario" awarded the Charlemagne Prize
Italian politician and financial expert Mario Draghi has been awarded the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen City Hall for his services to European unification. "I think you will understand that his friends call him Super Mario," said Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in his speech. He was alluding to a famous video game character, an Italian plumber with a red cap and moustache.
14.05.2026, 12:44
SDA
Draghi had stabilized the euro at a threatening time, said Merz. "You took a risk, it could have failed." But it had paid off. "The euro is unchallenged today." In 2012, at the height of the euro crisis, Draghi, now 78, said as President of the European Central Bank (ECB) that they would do "whatever it takes" to secure the single currency.
Merz said that today Europe is under renewed and unprecedented pressure. Here, too, Draghi had pointed the right way two years ago with the report on European competitiveness named after him.
Europe threatens to become a mere spectator
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was the second keynote speaker to say that many had claimed during the euro crisis that Greece was incapable of reform. Others, including Mario Draghi, had seen it differently. Today, it is clear that this trust in Greece was justified.
Today's challenges are different: European competitiveness is deteriorating noticeably. "There is a danger that Europe (....) will become a spectator of decisions made elsewhere." The Draghi Report shows how Europe can also overcome this crisis. This also includes improving Europe's defense capabilities. If Europe decides to act according to the motto "whatever it takes", it can still make history today, said Mitsotakis.
