Winners of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2025

Celebrating active youth, the 2025 competition awarded the three prizes to a Hungarian media platform on European identity, a Czech initiative on engaging youth vote and a German project on free legal support against gender-based discrimination and violence.


June 02, 2025
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by Eirini Polydorou

The European Charlemagne Youth Prize celebrated last week the winners of this year's competition. 

The media project “Forum Europaeum” from Hungary won the first prize (€7500), among the 27 national candidates. The project is a pan-european media outlet that promotes youth exchanges on EU policy and identity. The platform provides articles, podcasts, Tik Tok videos and interviews, with the motto “Think, then act. For a flourishing Europe.”

The winner of the second prize (€5000) was the initiative “Díky, že můžem volit” (“Thanks That We Can Vote”) from Czech Republic. The project aims at strengthening electoral participation among young people through collaborative education and outreach solutions. 

The "Feminist Law Clinic" from Germany was awarded the third prize (€2500). This initiative provides pro bono legal support for individuals affected by gender-based discrimination and violence and promotes the protection of women’s and LGBTQI+ rights.

The EU President Ursula von der Leyen was also awarded. She received the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen 2025, in honour of her outstanding commitment to European unity, security and competitiveness. 


In her speech she stated: “Europe is my life. And it is the greatest honour of my life to stand here before you all today".


Backgound and How to Apply

The European Charlemagne Youth Prize was founded in 1950. It awards youth-led initiatives that foster democracy and public participation. It is jointly awarded by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen. Interested applicants may see how to apply here


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