Even though EU member states have their own state awards, which are presented by presidents or prime ministers, the European Union came up with its own award on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Various personalities from member states can recently receive an award for their contribution to European integration and the defense of European values.
They are a kind of “Nobel Prize of Europe” that can be won by politicians, scientists, athletes, artists or civil activists. The award is called the European Order of Merit, and today it is presented for the first time during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Leaders of countries that are still waiting to join the EU should also be among the awardees. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for example, will receive the award, as well as Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who will attend the ceremony in person. It is also about symbolism, since this new award takes place during the Russian war in Ukraine, but also during the conflict in the Middle East.
Various activists are also honored, for example the legendary Irish group U2, led by Bono, who is known for his pacifist attitudes, when he visited Ukraine several times, or the Spanish chef José Andrés, who is the founder of the non-profit organization “World Central Kitchen”, which provides food in places affected by natural disasters.
Award for the European idea
The new award is intended to honor people who have made a significant contribution to European integration or to the defense of values enshrined in European treaties: democracy, peace, the rule of law or human dignity. European institutions also talk about “civic courage” and the effort to inspire the next generations.
It is no coincidence that the awards are presented for the first time right now. The European Order of Merit was created last year on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations of today’s European Union, and today the first ever presentation of this new pan-European award is taking place in Strasbourg.
Until now, the EU did not have its own pan-European civilian award. The new order is supposed to complement the national awards of individual states and at the same time create a symbolic block, i.e. a “pantheon” of personalities who shaped the common European project.
Three levels of award
The European Order of Merit will have three levels: Member of the Order, Honorary Member of the Order and Extraordinary Member of the Order. A maximum of twenty laureates can be awarded each year, in exceptional cases five additional names can be added.
Proposals for laureates can be submitted by the presidents of the main European institutions, i.e. the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission, but also by the prime ministers of the member states or the presidents of the national parliaments.
A seven-member selection committee decides who will receive the award. It consists of the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, the Vice-Presidents of the Parliament Ewa Kopacz and Sophie Wilmès, as well as well-known names in European politics such as Michel Barnier, José Manuel Barroso, Josep Borrell or Enrico Letta.
Calls for unity and the defense of democracy
“Europe is back. Ukraine is an integral part of European security. Europe is not only about geography, but about the values we use. Europe must defend freedom and democracy,” said Ukrainian lawyer and human rights activist Oleksandra Matviychuk after accepting the award.
Before the awards were presented, a joint press conference was held in Strasbourg by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, who is among the laureates of the first year of the European Order of Merit.
During her speech, Metsolova emphasized that in recent years, Moldova has become a symbol of European direction and pressure from Russia. “The people of Moldova chose Europe. And you continue on this path with determination, despite all attempts at destabilization and Russian interference,” said the President of the European Parliament.
She also recalled specific steps taken by Brussels towards Chisinau. According to her, the European Parliament opened its representation in the Moldovan capital, renewed the memorandum of cooperation with the Moldovan Parliament and supported the allocation of pre-accession funds for Moldova in the next EU budget. “If we invest in Moldova today, we invest in Europe tomorrow,” said Metsola.
Maia Sandu subsequently described European integration as a question of security and the future of the country. “Moldova does not forget Europe and Europe does not forget Moldova,” said the president, who also praised Brussels’ support in the period of growing security threats in the region. However, during her speech in the European Parliament, someone in the plenary started shouting at Sanda and tried to boo her. However, it was not supposed to be an MEP.
However, several laureates did not attend the ceremony in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was absent, as well as members of the Irish group U2, who received an award for their cultural and social contribution to Europe.
A strong moment also came during the speech of former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, who received an award for his services to Polish integration in the European Union. His performance was followed by several minutes of standing ovation across the entire European Parliament.
In his speech, Buzek called for the unity of the European Union, “which created the foundations for common security, energy, but also opposition to Russia and the protection of Ukraine.”
Laureates of the first year of the European Order of Merit:
Extraordinary Member of the Order:
- Angela Merkel, former chancellor of Germany
- Lech Wałęsa, former Polish president and Solidarity leader
- Volodymyr Zelenskyj, President of Ukraine
Honorary member of the order:
- Valdas Adamkus, former president of Lithuania
- Jerzy Buzek, former Polish Prime Minister and former President of the European Parliament
- Aníbal Cavaco Silva, former president and prime minister of Portugal
- Sauli Niinistö, former president of Finland
- Pietro Parolin, Cardinal and Secretary of State of the Vatican
- Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Maia Sandu, President of Moldova
- Javier Solana, former EU High Representative for Foreign Policy
- Wolfgang Schüssel, former Austrian chancellor
- Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank
Order member:
- José Andrés, chef and founder of World Central Kitchen
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greek basketball player
- Marc Gjidara, lawyer and academic
- Sandra Lejniece, doctor and scientist
- Oleksandra Matvijchuk, Ukrainian lawyer and human rights activist
- Viviane Redingová, former vice-president of the European Commission
- Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., members of the Irish band U2
