The CoR receives the Carlos V European Prize from His Majesty King of Spain

On behalf of the European Committee of the Regions, President Kata Tüttő received the Carlos V European Prize 2026 from His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain in the award ceremony at the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste (Extremadura, Spain) on 25 May.

The Carlos V European Prize recognises the CoR's essential role in ensuring the participation of cities and regions in the European Union’s decision-making process. The prestigious award is granted by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation.

Statement of Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions:

"Winning the Carlos V Award is a profound honour for the European Committee of the Regions. It recognises the essential role of local and regional leaders — Europe’s living resilience network, our reserves of leadership, ambition, trust, attention and human connection in times of permanent crisis.

The CoR exists to connect European policies to local realities, where around 70% of EU policies are implemented. This award affirms how crucial it is that Europe’s decisions remain grounded in everyday life.

Local and regional leaders are stabilisers in uncertainty, crisis managers, democratic anchors and builders of trust. They keep long‑term climate, social and cohesion goals alive even when attention shifts elsewhere.

This recognition strengthens our conviction: if Europe wants to remain strong, democratic and united, it must protect and reinforce its local and regional fabric — not weaken it."

More information:

The jury chaired by María Guardiola, President of the Board of Trustees of the Yuste Foundation and of the Regional Government of Extremadura, awarded the prize to the Committee in consideration of "its contribution to integrating the cities and regions of Europe into the common project, enabling citizens to raise their everyday problems and concerns with EU institutions, thus ensuring that European Union legislation incorporates the territorial dimension and respects the principle of subsidiarity".

According to the jury members, "in times of complexity and polarization, the Committee of the Regions has promoted balance, listening, and multi-level and cross-border cooperation. It has also demonstrated that cooperation and territorial diversity are a strength that makes Europe fairer, more realistic, and more resilient. Its work embodies the unity in diversity that underpins European integration and guarantees that Europe is also built from its regions and cities".

The Carlos V European Prize was awarded for the first time in 1995 to Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission. Past winners of the award include other presidents of EU institutions (José Manuel Barroso, Antonio Tajani, Mario Draghi), Heads of State or Government (Mikhail Gorbatchev, Helmut Kohl, Angela Merkel, Felipe González), as well as international organisations and their leaders (UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres).

• Photos and videos of the award ceremony

Contact:

Lauri Ouvinen
Tel. +32 473536887
lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu