The European Parliament will present its new European Order of Merit for the first time on Tuesday in Strasbourg. The honor recognizes people who have contributed to European integration or who defend and promote the EU’s core values.
Among the highest-level recipients are former German chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former Polish president Lech Wałęsa. Zelenskyy is a laureate but will not attend the ceremony in person. Merkel is being honored for her long-standing commitment to European ideals, and Wałęsa is recognized for his role leading Poland’s Solidarity movement and helping end communist rule.
Other figures awarded lower levels include Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Moldovan president Maia Sandu, former European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet, former Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and members of the rock band U2. In total, about 20 people were named as laureates; the parliament says 13 will accept the honor in person and deliver brief speeches.
The order was established last year. European Parliament authorities say it is intended to celebrate individuals who have actively helped build Europe by bridging divides, breaking barriers, resisting authoritarianism and working through crises for a better future on the continent.
The presentation ceremony at the European Parliament is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. local time (09:30 GMT). A full list of laureates is available from the European Parliament.
Edited by Dmytro Hubenko