Europe

2024 Adam Mickiewicz Prize Honors Champions of European Integration

Diplomats from France, Germany, and Poland Recognized for Revitalizing the Weimar Triangle

July 29th, 2024
Yana Kurteva, News from Berlin
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On July 10, the prestigious Adam Mickiewicz Prize for 2024 was awarded in an intimate ceremony at the Berlin residence of the French ambassador. Since its inception in 2006, this award, conferred by the Committee for the Promotion of German-French-Polish Cooperation, has recognized individuals and institutions that have significantly contributed to the strengthening of trilateral relations and the broader cause of European integration.

The prize pays homage to the visionaries behind the Weimar Triangle: Foreign Ministers Roland Dumas (France), Hans-Dietrich Genscher (Germany), and Krzysztof Skubiszewski (Poland). Over the years, it has been awarded to 37 notable figures and organizations, including Prof. Rita Süssmuth, Prof. Władysław Bartoszewski, Freya Gräfin von Moltke, and institutions such as the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Goethe Institute, and the Institut Français.

This year, the accolade was presented to the current heads of diplomacy from France (Stéphane Séjourné), Germany (Annalena Baerbock), and Poland (Radosław Sikorski) for their efforts in revitalizing the Weimar Triangle. Accepting the award on their behalf were Ambassadors François Marie Delattre (France), Dariusz Pawłoś (Poland), and Hans-Peter Hinrichsen, Head of the Central Europe Division at the German Federal Foreign Office.

The ceremony's speeches celebrated the enduring friendship symbolized by the Weimar Triangle, especially crucial in today's world, marked by crises and geopolitical tension. The cooperation among these nations is seen as vital for fostering a united, peaceful, and prosperous Europe. The Weimar Triangle was lauded as a think tank, an integration engine, and a laboratory for innovative ideas, offering inclusive solutions to Europe's future challenges.

The speakers emphasized the renewed dynamism in Weimar cooperation amidst the aggressive Russian invasion of Ukraine. Recent declarations from summits in La Celle-Saint-Cloud (February 2024) and Weimar (May 2024) underscore the Weimar Triangle's unified stance on security and effective defense as essential to maintaining Europe's sovereignty and solidarity. These documents highlight shared goals such as resilience against hybrid and cyber threats, bolstering Europe’s geopolitical action capacity, and unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight for fundamental European values.

Beyond high-level politics, the Weimar Triangle also thrives on grassroots interactions. Committed civil societies, municipalities, cities, and regions are the backbone of this cooperation, especially evident in coordinating humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Youth dialogue and cultural exchanges are equally pivotal, underscoring the importance of interpersonal connections.

Special thanks were extended to Prof. Klaus-Heinrich Standke, President of the Committee for the Promotion of German-French-Polish Cooperation, for his decades-long dedication to popularizing the Weimar Triangle and its ethos. Standke highlighted the symbolic journey of Adam Mickiewicz, after whom the prize is named, connecting Germany, France, and Poland. Mickiewicz's visit to Goethe, who praised him as a leading poet of his generation, exemplifies the historical ties and shared cultural heritage among these nations.

Ambassador Pawłoś invoked Mickiewicz’s vision of a European federation and his belief in the universal value of freedom, urging all to emulate his ideals in advancing the Weimar Triangle's cooperation. This includes discussing EU reforms, negotiating new memberships, enhancing European military capabilities, and steadfastly supporting Ukraine's struggle for freedom, its reconstruction, and its integration into the EU and NATO.

The 2024 Adam Mickiewicz Prize not only celebrates past achievements but also calls for continued dedication to European unity and resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.

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