COMUNICACIÓN

The jury of the 18th edition of the Carlos V European Award, granted by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation, decided to confer the award on the Spanish politician Josep Borrell Fontelles, vice-president of the European Commission and High Representative for the Union’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2019–2024), and president of the European Parliament (2004–2007), “for his career, defence of peace, democracy, and European values, and his contribution to European integration and the advancement of the European Union’s external action, contributing to strengthening the Union’s role and leadership in the world during particularly delicate times”. (03/04/2025)

This was announced by Abel Bautista, regional minister for the Presidency, Interior and Social Dialogue of the Regional Government of Extremadura, who, in his speech, stated that the war in Ukraine has reshaped security priorities, making “unity and solidarity among European countries more necessary than ever”. In his view, the current global situation presents the European Union with an opportunity to “establish itself as a global actor with its own voice in this new landscape”. For this reason, Bautista stressed that today, more than ever, Europe must work more closely together to speed up decision-making among its twenty-seven Member States and, therefore, that “more and better Europe” is needed.

For the granting of this award, the jury also took into account Borrell’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his contribution to the launch of the Strategic Compass, which provides the European Union with an action plan to strengthen security and defence policy until 2030. Furthermore, the jury acknowledged the awardee’s “firm and proportionate” response to the war that broke out on European soil in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “unwaveringly defending peace within Europe and strengthening the Union’s cohesion in the face of such challenges”.

Josep Borrell is the fourth Spaniard to be awarded the Carlos V European Award, following Marcelino Oreja, who received the prize in 2017; Javier Solana, in 2011; and Felipe González, in 2000. 

The Carlos V European Award ceremony is scheduled to take place on 9 May, Europe Day, at the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste. 

It is also worth noting that the Carlos V European Award marks its 30^th anniversary this year, having been presented for the first time to Jacques Delors on 6 June 1995. 

The jury, chaired by the president of the Regional Government of Extremadura, María Guardiola Martín, included, among others, the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola; the minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and first vice-president of Yuste Foundation’s Board of Trustees, José Manuel Albares; former prime ministers of Spain, José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy; the director of the Royal Academy of History of Spain and member of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste, Carmen Iglesias; and the rector of the University of Extremadura, Pedro Fernández.

Yuste Foundation received 18 proposals from Belgium, Spain, and France. In addition, 215 letters of support have been submitted from 22 countries: Germany, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Romania, Tunisia, and Uruguay.

Josep Borrell Fontelles

An aeronautical engineer and economist, he held various ministerial positions in the Government of Spain from 1984 to 1996. He later took part in drafting the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union as a member of the Convention. In 2004, after being elected as a member of the European Parliament, he served as its president until 2007. In June 2018, he was appointed minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Government of Spain, and following the 2019 European elections, he was elected High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Carlos V European Award

 Since 1995, the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation awards the Carlos V European Award to recognise individuals, organisations, projects, or initiatives that, through their effort and dedication, have contributed to the advancement of knowledge and the promotion of Europe’s cultural, social, scientific, and historical values, as well as to the process of European integration and construction. 

During the award ceremony, the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste brings together distinguished figures from both Europe and Ibero-America. The Carlos V European Award embodies the spirit of building a united, just, equal, supportive, and free Europe. The solemn award ceremony is a State event, endorsed by His Majesty King Felipe VI, who serves as the honorary president of Yuste Foundation.