"More than ever Europe needs political will to make responsible decisions. No challenge can be faced without assuming responsibility. This goes for all, leaders and ordinary Europeans alike," the president said at the solemn ceremony at Aachen Town Hall.
She emphasized that Europe today needed a responsible fiscal policy based on living within one's means.
In her words, although budget planning, debt, and inflation management may sound very technical, "but if these measures are not in place, we will continue deceiving ourselves that life is good – when actually only the statistics will be."
Grybauskaitė noted that, amid the rigid austerity measures taken by Lithuania during the crisis, "the Lithuanian people demonstrated understanding and patience."
"And yes, responsible behavior might not win elections, but it will ensure sustainable growth," the Lithuanian leader added.
At the same time, she stressed that Europe should now invest in measures targeted to combat youth unemployment, "so that disappointment does not become the guiding principle for Europe."
Grybauskaitė applauded Germany's "historic role" and "significant contribution made by Germany and its people as they took on the leadership in search of the necessary decisions at European level."
"Today Germany plays the leading role in ensuring European stability and does not allow us to wander from the path of trust in Europe. That is why it is Germany which gets the strongest criticism – and also our deepest respect," the Lithuanian president said at the ceremony.
Previous winners of the Charlemagne Prize include late Pope John Paul II, founding fathers of the European Union Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer, Robert Schuman, British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, US President Bill Clinton, Czech humanist and former president Vaclav Havel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Dutch Queen Beatrix, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker.
The award committee said the Lithuanian president received the Charlemagne Prize for her exceptional dedication to seek greater integration in the European Union and find solution to the current crisis.
