Tusk was expected to travel to Potsdam in eastern Germany this week to receive the annual M100 Media Award, bestowed by the German-based M100 Sanssouci Colloquium organization to “personalities who are committed to strengthening democracy, freedom of expression and freedom of the press as well as to European understanding.”
But the Polish leader cancelled his trip at the last minute, citing domestic commitments, news outlets reported.
Justice Minister Adam Bodnar will collect the award in his place at a ceremony in Potsdam on Thursday, according to Polish media.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was due to deliver a keynote address, will also skip the ceremony, the euractiv.com news service has reported.
“It is with deep regret that Chancellor Olaf Scholz has had to cancel his participation in the M100 Media Award due to scheduling conflicts," the organisers said in a statement, as cited by euractiv.com.
"Prime Minister Donald Tusk can also not attend the ceremony in person due to important national commitments,” they added.
Tusk on Tuesday criticised a decision by Germany to tighten controls on its borders, urging consultations among European Union members over the move.
Speaking at a meeting of Polish ambassadors, Tusk said that Warsaw needed greater support from Berlin and other EU capitals to secure the bloc's external border, rather than stricter controls along its own border with Germany.
'Unwavering fight against autocracy'
Former German President Joachim Gauck and former German Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping are expected to deliver laudatory speeches during Thursday's ceremony, which will also honour Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, according to euractiv.com.
Potsdam Mayor Mike Schubert, who heads the award selection panel, said last month that the prize was going to Tusk for his "unwavering fight against autocracy."
He described Tusk and Osmani-Sadriu as "trailblazers for a modern and stable Europe" and "indispensable voices for our democratic free society in these challenging times," according to the m100potsdam.org website.
He added that both politicians "place human rights and democratic principles at the core of their actions."
"Their voices are invaluable right now – not only for their countries but for the entire continent," Schubert also said in August. "They are not just committed Europeans, but above all, compelling ones. Their work sets standards and inspires."
The award, handed out since 2005 as part of the international media conference M100 Sanssouci Colloquium, has previously honoured recipients such as Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (2021), the people of Ukraine (2022), and the Women, Life, Freedom movement of Iran (2023).
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Source: IAR, PAP, wprost.pl, euractiv.com, m100potsdam.org, aussiedlerbote.de
