Brussels, 12/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker is to receive the Charlemagne Prize 2006 at Aix-la-Chapelle on 25 May. At a time when the European Union is facing a serious crisis, strong personalities who inspire confidence are needed, and Mr Juncker is one such person, said Jürgen Linden, Burgomaster of Aix-La Chapelle. The announcement that it is Mr Juncker who will be receiving the prize states that the prize is going to a “great European who, in the best Luxembourg tradition” acts as a driving force for the process of integration thanks to his “credibility, competence, perseverance and passion” he, like very few others, has the gift of being able to “pass on his enthusiasm to citizens for the process of European unification”. The text goes on to state that Jean-Claude Juncker has been a decisive player in all progress for integration over the past two decades, and has been "an intermediary, a mediator and a bridge between the politicians and the people, as well as between the differing member countries of the European Union." In 1986, the Charlemagne Prize had been awarded to the people of Luxembourg (at the time, Mr Juncker was Minister for Labour and the Budget, before becoming Finance Minister in 1989 and Prime Minister in 1995).