Mario Draghi honoured with the “Marion Dönhoff” prize

Hamburg, 8 October /ATSH-DPA/ – Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank (ECB) and former prime minister of Italy, will be honoured this year with the “Marion Dönhoff” Prize for International Understanding and Reconciliation.

The prize is awarded to him for his contribution to the political and economic unification of Europe, the German newspaper “Die Zeit” said.

A special prize will be given to the “Elman” Peace and Human Rights Centre in Somalia.

The “Elman” Peace and Human Rights Centre is honoured for its special commitment to promoting peace and reconciliation in Somalia, a country that has been badly hit by wars and conflicts.

Both prizes are worth 20,000 euros each and will be presented on 6 December at the “Deutsches Schauspielhaus” theatre in Hamburg.

The jury said that, during his leadership of the European Central Bank, Draghi helped the eurozone get through a severe financial crisis without collapsing.

When he was prime minister of Italy, he managed to keep a politically divided country united and stood against the rise of nationalism and populism.

After leaving office, Draghi prepared a report on the future of Europe’s competitiveness.

According to the jury, the report presented ways in which the European Union can better face competition from the world’s great powers, especially the USA and China.