2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the Women of Europe Award Germany. In the anniversary year of the award, EM Germany honoured two women for their commitment for Europe: Lisi Maier, co-chair of the German Federal Youth Council (DBJR) and Prof Dr Ingeborg Tömmel, founder of Germany’s first full-time degree program in “European Studies,” were honoured on 17 June 2021 in a festive online event. 

The ceremony was organized by EM Germany together with the representation of the European Commission in Germany. In his opening speech, Dr Jörg Wojahn, Representative of the European Commission in Germany, emphasized the importance of the Women of Europe Awards given the Covid-19 pandemic, which had exacerbated the gradient between women and men. EM Germany Secretary-General Bernd Hüttemann congratulated the award winners and stressed the diversity of the network around the award, which is made up of women who have now been working for Europe’s integration for a whole generation from a wide variety of fields such as politics, education, culture and business.

In her laudatory speech, Prof Dr Gesine Schwan, political scientist and award winner herself, praised Tömmel as a passionate European who takes the values of the EU seriously. The laudation for Maier was held by Malu Dreyer, Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate. She emphasized Maier’s tireless commitment in the field of youth work.

Prof Gudrun Schmidt-Kärner, President of the Women of Europe Award Germany presented the awards and underlined its symbolic significance. In addition to the two award winners, Margrit Weimeister was honoured for her life’s work in the field of international youth work.

Further information about the award (in German) see here.