Mario Draghi, the Italian economist and banker who led the European Central Bank from 2011 to 2019, received the 2026 International Charlemagne Prize in recognition of his role in stabilising the eurozone and promoting European unity. His decisive response to the euro crisis had already earned him the nickname "Super Mario" among journalists and financial markets.
At the ceremony, Friedrich Merz and Kyriakos Mitsotakis described Draghi as a key figure in protecting Europe during a period of economic turmoil. Merz used the event to call for a stronger and more integrated European Union, urging member states to increase investment in competitiveness and defence in response to pressure from the United States under Donald Trump and growing competition from China.
