ECB President Christine Lagarde praises Mario Draghi’s leadership and Europe’s resilience

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, delivered a speech at the dinner preceding the Charlemagne Prize ceremony in Aachen, Germany, honoring Mario Draghi.

She highlighted the historical significance of Charlemagne as a symbol of European unity and drew parallels to Draghi’s leadership.

Lagarde emphasized the importance of individual leadership and the need for enduring institutions to sustain European integration, referencing the post-war foundations established by Monnet and Schuman.

She described Draghi’s role in the creation of the euro and his decisive actions during the sovereign debt crisis, including his commitment to do “whatever it takes” to preserve the euro, which marked a turning point for Europe’s monetary union.

Lagarde discussed current challenges facing Europe, such as geopolitical tensions, energy vulnerabilities, and fragmented markets, and praised Draghi’s ongoing efforts to diagnose and address these issues.

She concluded by urging European leaders to act courageously to build lasting institutions, emphasizing that the work of strengthening Europe remains unfinished. Lagarde congratulated Draghi on receiving the Charlemagne Prize.