Former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher will be presented with the 2012 European School Prize tomorrow (19 October). Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will give a speech to mark the occasion and Professor Jan-Hendrik Olbertz, the President of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, will deliver the citation.

The Prize is awarded every two years by the Bundesnetzwerk der deutschen Europaschulen (national network of European schools in Germany) to figures who have made an outstanding contribution towards a united Europe. The association believes that the life’s work of Hans Dietrich Genscher has helped it in a unique way to achieve its goal of preparing pupils for a life in our common European house.

The Bundesnetzwerk is a voluntary association of individuals, schools, representatives of the Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs, as well as other supporters and sponsors. It was established in 2004. One of the association’s key tasks is to initiate, support and foster exchanges between European schools in Germany.