Adalbert-Stiftung-Krefeld

The Adalbert-Stiftung-Krefeld (Adalbert Foundation) is a non-profit German foundation based in Krefeld. It was established in 1989 by the Krefeld industrialist and city senator Paul Kleinewefers (1905–2001), originally under the name Kleinewefers-Stiftung, in response to the peaceful revolutions in East-Central Europe that year. It was later renamed the Adalbert-Stiftung, taking its name from Saint Adalbert of Prague (956–997), the missionary bishop who worked in the territories of today's Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary. The renaming followed controversy over the founder's past. The founding board chairman and honorary chairman was Hans Friedrich Dickel (1928–2009). The foundation's stated purpose is to contribute to the intellectual and cultural coalescence of all of Europe, with a particular focus on the perspectives of pan-European commonality and a special orientation toward Central and Eastern Europe. It pursues these goals through international forums, political dialogues, seminar weeks, and the awarding of the Adalbert Prizes. The foundation is governed by a board (Vorstand) whose members have included Armin Laschet as chairman, alongside H. Dieter Gobbers and Stephan J. Holthoff-Pförtner. A board of trustees (Kuratorium) advises the board; its members have included Leo Peters (honorary chairman), Hans Hecker, Hans Hermann Henrix, Gregor Maria Hoff, Ferenc Holczer (Hungary), Marcus Optendrenk (chairman), Wolfgang Radau, Martin Sloboda (Slovakia), and Rita Süssmuth. Its most visible activity is the International Adalbert Prize, awarded to a personality who has rendered outstanding service in the spirit of the foundation's purpose. The laureate is selected by an international prize committee composed of representatives of the "Adalbert countries" — Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The prize is currently endowed with €10,000, and recipients also receive a certificate and a medal. The award ceremony is held in a different Adalbert country each time, and the prize is presented by a head of state. Past laureates include František Mikloško (2005), Władysław Bartoszewski (2007), Árpád Göncz (2009), Ján Čarnogurský (2011), Petr Pithart (2013), Hanna Suchocka (2015), Imre Kónya (2017), Peter Zajac (2019) and Joachim Gauck (2021). In 2024 the foundation marked the twentieth anniversary of the EU's eastern enlargement with a ceremony held together with the representation of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia to the federal government in Berlin, featuring representatives of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The foundation also publishes books and documentation related to its themes.

The Adalbert-Stiftung was founded in 1989 in Krefeld by the industrialist and city senator Paul Kleinewefers (1905–2001), under the impression of the peaceful revolutions in East-Central Europe that year. It was initially named the Kleinewefers-Stiftung after its founder. Because of the controversial past of the founder, the foundation was later renamed the Adalbert-Stiftung, taking as its patron Saint Adalbert of Prague (956–997), the missionary bishop who worked in the territories of today's Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The founding board chairman and honorary chairman was Hans Friedrich Dickel (1928–2009). The foundation's purpose is to contribute to the intellectual and cultural coalescence of all of Europe, with a particular focus on the perspectives of pan-European commonality and a special orientation toward Central and Eastern Europe. It seeks to help shape a lasting coalescence of Europe. It pursues these goals through international forums, political dialogues, seminar weeks, and the awarding of the Adalbert Prizes. The foundation is represented by a board (Vorstand), whose members have included Armin Laschet as chairman, H. Dieter Gobbers and Stephan J. Holthoff-Pförtner. The board is advised by a board of trustees (Kuratorium), whose members have included Leo Peters (honorary chairman), Hans Hecker, Hans Hermann Henrix, Gregor Maria Hoff, Ferenc Holczer (Hungary), Marcus Optendrenk (chairman), Wolfgang Radau, Martin Sloboda (Slovakia) and Rita Süssmuth. The International Adalbert Prize is named after Saint Adalbert. It is awarded to a personality who has rendered outstanding service in the spirit of the foundation's purpose. The laureate is selected by an international prize committee made up of representatives of the "Adalbert countries" — Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The committee has included figures such as Dariusz Pawłoś, Archbishop Henryk Muszyński and Hanna Suchocka (Poland); Ján Čarnogurský, Juraj Macháč and František Mikloško (Slovakia); Cardinal Dominik Duka, Tomáš Kafka and Karl Fürst zu Schwarzenberg (Czech Republic); and Cardinal Péter Erdő, Gábor Erdődy and Péter Györkös (Hungary). The prize is currently endowed with €10,000; recipients also receive a certificate and a medal. The award ceremony is held in a different Adalbert country each time, and the prize is presented by the respective head of state. Laureates have included František Mikloško (2005, presented by Hungarian President Ferenc Mádl in Budapest), Władysław Bartoszewski (2007, presented by Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič at Bratislava Castle), Árpád Göncz (2009, presented by Czech President Václav Klaus at Prague Castle), Ján Čarnogurský (2011, presented by Polish President Bronisław Komorowski in Warsaw), Petr Pithart (2013, presented by Hungarian President János Áder in Budapest), Hanna Suchocka (2015, in Bratislava), Imre Kónya (2017, presented by German Federal President Steinmeier in Berlin), Peter Zajac (2019, presented by Czech President Miloš Zeman in Prague) and Joachim Gauck (2021, presented by Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw). In 2024, the foundation commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the EU's eastern enlargement with a ceremony held together with the representation of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia to the federal government in Berlin, attended by representatives of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The foundation also publishes books and documentation related to its themes, such as works on Árpád Göncz, German-Polish relations, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk and Poland under Donald Tusk.

• 2024

  Ceremony in Berlin marking 20 years of the Visegrád countries' EU membership, held with the representation of North Rhine-Westphalia.

• 2021

  Prize awarded to former German Federal President Joachim Gauck, presented by Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw.

• 2019

  Prize awarded to Peter Zajac, presented by Czech President Miloš Zeman in Prague.

• 2017

  Prize awarded to Imre Kónya, presented by German Federal President Steinmeier in Berlin.

• 2015

  Prize awarded to Hanna Suchocka in Bratislava.

• 2013

  Prize awarded to Petr Pithart, presented by Hungarian President János Áder in Budapest.

• 2011

  Tenth prize awarded to Ján Čarnogurský, presented by Polish President Bronisław Komorowski in Warsaw.

• 2009

  Ninth prize awarded to Árpád Göncz, presented by Czech President Václav Klaus at Prague Castle.

• 2007

  Eighth prize awarded to Władysław Bartoszewski, presented by Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič at Bratislava Castle.

• 2005

  International Adalbert Prize awarded for the seventh time to František Mikloško, presented by Hungarian President Ferenc Mádl in Budapest.

• 1989

  Founded in Krefeld by Paul Kleinewefers as the Kleinewefers-Stiftung, inspired by the peaceful revolutions in East-Central Europe.

• Renamed Adalbert-Stiftung after Saint Adalbert of Prague following controversy over the founder's past.

Non-profit foundation for European integration and dialogue, focused on Central and Eastern Europe and the legacy of Saint Adalbert.

• International Adalbert Prize

  Awarded to a personality who has rendered outstanding service in the spirit of the foundation's purpose; endowed with €10,000, plus certificate and medal; presented by a head of state in a different Adalbert country each time.

• Publications

  Books and documentation on Central and Eastern European themes, including works on Árpád Göncz, German-Polish relations, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk and Poland under Donald Tusk.

1. 1Adalbert Stiftung Krefeld | Adalbert Stiftung Krefeldadalbert-stiftung.de
2. 2Adalbert-Stiftung-Krefeld – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Adalbert-Stiftung – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org