Press Release

The Youth Prize of the International Award of the Peace of Westphalia 2026 goes to the organisation „socioMovens. Giving Europe a Soul“. The youth network, which has its roots in Central and Eastern Europe, promotes social engagement, European understanding and a value-oriented youth culture. In international youth camps and projects, socioMovens conveys the spirit of a united, peaceful Europe – in the spirit of the Peace of Westphalia of 1648.

„The organisation socioMovens gives Europe a soul,“ states Dr Reinhard Zinkann, Chairman of the Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe. With this appeal from Jacques Delors, the organisation has a motto under which numerous social youth project weeks with young people in Central and Eastern Europe have been carried out since 2013.

With the aim of shaping the future together through commitment to a humane society, young people get involved in these weeks together with their local church institutions and volunteers. The project weeks focus on a specific social or environmental topic and are implemented in cooperation with the socioMovens Foundation and Kommende Dortmund, the social institute of the Archdiocese of Paderborn. The international partner association socioMovens e.V. manages membership and supports the foundation.

„Incentive to continue working on our cause“

The representatives of the socioMovens foundation’s board of directors are delighted about this award: „This is an incredible privilege for us,“ says Raphael Röwekamp. At the same time, the award is motivation for future engagement with partners in the project countries. Gregor Christiansmeyer emphasises: „The award is a valuable incentive to continue working on our cause.“ The initiative’s work is particularly important in today’s world. „SocioMovens contributes to the creation of peace on the ground in a Europe where war is once again raging,“ comments Claudia Schwarz. Detlef Herbers, Director of the Social Institute Kommende Dortmund, also expresses his delight: „It is important that our socio-ethical educational work is recognised and strengthened in this way.“

During the socioMovens project weeks, the young people experience the value of community in an intensive way. Motivated by experiential learning and informal learning, they explore their respective project topics and discover that they can contribute to making our world more just, peaceful and united. With this goal in mind, they remain connected in local engagement communities and share their experiences in the European network of socioMovens.

The main winner of the Westphalian Peace Prize is NATO. Mark Rutte will receive the award on behalf of the organisation. The prize, worth a total of 100,000 euros, will be awarded in 2026 at the historic town hall in Münster.

About the International Award of the Peace of Westphalia

The International Award of the Peace of Westphalia was awarded for the first time in 1998 on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the Westphalian Peace and has since been awarded every two years at Münster City Hall. Czech President Vaclav Havel was the first recipient in 1998. Other winners include Helmut Kohl, Carla del Ponte, Kurt Masur, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Kofi Annan, Daniel Barenboim, Helmut Schmidt, the International Space Station, King Abdullah II, the Baltic States, Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev, as well as Emmanuel Macron and Margot Friedländer.

Since its inception, the Westphalian Peace Prize has been divided into two categories: a main prize and a youth prize. Youth prize winners have included the Sternsinger, the Young Maltese, Children for a Better World, the Scouts and Plant-for-the-Planet.

The complete list of award winners with background information can be found at www.wirtschaftliche-gesellschaft.de.

About the Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe (Wirtschaftliche Gesellschaft für Westfalen und Lippe e.V.)

The Wirtschaftliche Gesellschaft für Westfalen und Lippe e.V. is an association of around 120 entrepreneurs, institutions and prominent figures from the Westphalian share of the Ruhr area, Münsterland, East-Westphalia, South Westphalia and Lippe. It advocates for dialogue with political and social actors and, with its International Peace Prize, promotes a strong Westphalia in the Europe of regions.

Background on the Peace of Westphalia of 1648

The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ended the confessional conflicts in Europe that had been ongoing since the Reformation and had led to more than 30 years of warfare in the centre of our continent. The peace treaty of Münster and Osnabrück created the conditions for religious tolerance by recognising different denominations.

The federal constitutional principle gained greater weight with the strengthening of the principalities, territories and imperial cities vis-à-vis the imperial central power. The idea of an order of equal states, whose coexistence was based on international law, replaced the centrally governed unity of Christianity with the emperor and pope at its head.

With awarding of the International Award of the Peace of Westphalia, the Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe is continuing the peace agreement of Münster and Osnabrück. At the same time, it wants to contribute to the ongoing discussion and implementation of the internal structure of the European Union.

On the institutional background of socioMovens

As an initiative of the Social Institute Kommende Dortmund, „socioMovens. Giving Europe a Soul“ is closely integrated into the institute’s work. The long-standing director of Kommende Dortmund, Prelate Dr Peter Klasvogt, is a key initiator and continues to support socioMovens in his role as Archiepiscopal Commissioner for Holistic Human Development in Central and Eastern Europe.