The Way of Sant James

• The award of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation was received by the Secretary General of the European Council, Thorbjørn Jagland
• The commissioner of Xacobeo 21, Cecilia Pereira, gave a thanking speech on behalf of the European Cultural Routes

Cuacos de Yuste (Cáceres), 9 May 2019

The Carlos V European Prize recognised today the work of the European Cultural Routes, including The Way of Saint James, in promoting values such as cultural diversity, respect for identities, intercultural dialogue and the exchange and knowledge of countries and history. The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Royal Monastery of Yuste and presided over by His Majesty King Felipe VI. This is the first time that the award given by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation falls on an initiative.

The person in charge of collecting the prize from the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation was the General Secretary of the European Council, Thorbjørn Jagland, maximum representative of the European Cultural Routes. Also representing the initiative was the commissioner of Xacobeo 21, Cecilia Pereira, who stressed that these routes "are the arteries that gave rise to Europe" and that The Way of Saint James was "the first of these routes”.

Along the same lines, Cecilia Pereira recalled that The Way "is the history of Europe, but also the way to our future”. "We live in a time in which walls are being rebuilt and that is why it is more important than ever to reclaim the Xacobean spirit and the universal values that soak every stone of The Way", said the commissioner of Xacobeo 21.