EU honours Zelenskyy and Merkel

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced the first laureates of the newly established European Order of Merit in Strasbourg. The award is intended to recognise contributions to European integration and the promotion and defence of European values.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel, former Polish president and Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were named as distinguished members of the European Order of Merit.

Honorary members include Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, former Polish prime minister and former President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, former president and prime minister of Portugal Aníbal Cavaco Silva, former President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, former Irish president Mary Robinson, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Javier Solana, former Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and former European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet.

Other members of the European Order of Merit include chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés, basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, lawyer Marc Gjidara, doctor Sandra Lejniece, human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk, former European commissioner Viviane Reding and members of the Irish band U2.

The European Parliament decided to introduce the award last year on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. The award ceremony will take place during the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg in May.

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