Under the patronage of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Congress in Germany will present Cornelia Pieper, Coordinator of German-Polish Cooperation and Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, with the Polonicus Prize in Aachen on Saturday (7 May).

The Polonicus Prize is presented to individuals who have contributed to the German-Polish dialogue and who cultivate and actively shape Polish culture in Germany.

The Polonicus Prize jury has decided to honour Minister of State Pieper in the prize category “German-Polish Dialogue” in recognition of her services to this dialogue, which have done much to strengthen the joint house of Europe. It went on to say that Minister of State Pieper is committed to good neighbourly cooperation based on partnership between Germany and Poland, thus helping to break down stereotypes and advance integration ever more.

The writer and translator Karl Dedecius and the Chairman of the Union of Poles in Germany, Kleve district, Wladyslaw Pisarek, were also honoured. The Honorary Polonicus 2011 is being awarded to the English historian Prof. Norman Davies.

These prizes were first awarded in 2009. This year’s celebrations are taking place in the Coronation Hall at Aachen City Hall.