Roland Mack Receives the Council of Europe’s “Pro Merito” Medal

(eap) Roland Mack, owner of Europa-Park Resort in Rust, Germany, has been awarded the prestigious “Pro Merito” Medal of the Council of Europe. The honour was presented to him in a ceremonial setting by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset. With the “Pro Merito” Medal, the Council of Europe honours individuals who have rendered outstanding services to European values, social cohesion and international understanding.

Zur Verleihung wurde Roland Mack von seiner Ehefrau Marianne Mack und seinem Sohn Michael Mack, Honorarkonsul der Republik Frankreich, begleitet. © Europa-Park

The award recognises in particular Mack’s entrepreneurial lifetime achievement and his long-standing commitment to European cooperation. As a defining personality in the leisure and tourism industry, he has developed Europa-Park – which he founded in 1975 together with his father Franz Mack – into an international flagship project, while at the same time sustainably strengthening Central Europe as a tourism destination. In addition, he has been committed for decades to intercultural dialogue and cross-border partnerships.

Secretary General Alain Berset emphasised the particular significance of this year’s decision: “The Council of Europe’s Pro Merito Medal has previously been awarded to judges, politicians, scientists and architects – but never to an entrepreneur. We are proud to present it to someone who quite literally helps shape Europe.”

Roland Mack welcomed the recognition: “This award fills me with great gratitude. For me, Europe is far more than a geographical space – it is an idea that thrives on encounters, diversity and shared values. If we succeed in bringing people from different countries together and inspiring enthusiasm for one another, we make an important contribution to the cohesion of our community.”

Read more about the success story of Europa-Park in our anniversary feature “50 Years of Europa-Park” in EAP 2/2025. ■