Jean Asselborn, former Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, will give the keynote speech at the award ceremony for this year’s Emperor Otto Prize to pianist Igor Levit and violinist Lisa Batiashvili. The laudatory speech for the two artists will be given by German actor Christian Berkel. The award ceremony will take place during a festive ceremony in the St. Mauritius and Katharina Cathedral on 2 July.

Mayor Simone Borris emphasises: “Europe is as diverse as its countries and the people who live here – yet we are united in common values such as peace, tolerance and democracy. But even among friends, different concerns sometimes cause disagreement. This is not a bad thing, on the contrary: it is an essential achievement of democratic societies that every critical voice is heard, even if what is said is uncomfortable. Jean Asselborn and Christian Berkel do just that. They are not content with the status quo, but show us where we can and must do better. That’s why I’m delighted that they are part of this year’s award ceremony as laudatory speech givers and keynote speakers.”

Keynote speaker
Jean Asselborn was born in Luxembourg in 1949 and held the post of Minister for Foreign and European Affairs from 2004. In 2023, 19 uninterrupted years as chief diplomat of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg came to an end. During this time, he was a frequent guest on TV talk shows and radio programmes in Germany. Not everyone wanted to hear his direct and critical words, but he proved that even the voice of the second smallest EU country can carry weight.

As a member of the Luxembourg Socialist Labour Party (LSAP), he campaigned tirelessly for European integration and international cooperation. He played a key role in the creation of the Schengen area and campaigned for a common European asylum policy. The Social Democrat has been concerned about migration ever since he visited the island of Lesbos in 2015. People regularly arrive there in unseaworthy boats, and Asselborn reported on fenced-in children and empty eyes. Not least because of this experience, he pleaded in favour of responsibility and solidarity instead of national interests, but was far from convincing all EU states.

He was honoured several times for his commitment, including with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur of France.

Laudatory speech
Christian Berkel, born in West Berlin in 1957, is today one of the most distinguished German actors of his generation. After training as an actor in Paris and further studies in London, he began his career on theatre stages in Germany and Europe. From the 1980s onwards, he also increasingly established himself in film and television.

Berkel achieved international fame through roles in productions such as ‘Downfall’, “Trumbo” and the Tarantino film ‘Inglourious Basterds’. His great versatility makes him a sought-after character actor in German and international productions. On German television, he became particularly well known for his title role in the ZDF crime series ‘Der Kriminalist’. In addition to his work as an actor, he is also active as an audio book narrator and author.

Berkel also uses his popularity and presence to publicly stand up for European values such as democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. He takes an active stance against nationalism and marginalisation and supports initiatives that advocate an open, united Europe.

Photo credit: © SIP / Gerald von Foris