The first laureates of the European Order of Merit were honoured for their significant contribution to EU integration and values in a ceremony at the European Parliament. 13 of the inaugural 20 European Order of Merit laureates attended the ceremony in Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg and addressed the Chamber, following their receipt of the distinction from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Members of the Order’s selection committee were present, as was the deputy minister for European affairs of Cyprus, Marilena Raouna, on behalf of the EU Council Presidency. “Europe was not handed to us. It was built treaty by treaty, crisis by crisis and by people who chose solidarity over division and cooperation over self-interest. With the European Order of Merit, we honour those who, across every walk of life, choose to build Europe – those who led when it was difficult and kept our Union moving forward. Because Europe endures only as long as each generation chooses to defend it”, President Metsola said at the opening of the ceremony.

Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany, and Lech Wałęsa, former leader of Solidarność and former President of Poland, admitted as distinguished members of the Order, were present in Strasbourg.

European Order of Merit

Memoclip: European Order of Merit - 2026 (laureates profile)

European Order of Merit side event - Panel discussion

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: extracts from the arrivals and from the conferral ceremony

European Order of Merit- Official lunch

EP Plenary Session - European Order of Merit – Conferral ceremony

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: European anthem and family photo

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: conferral of the distinctions to the Distinguished Member of the Order of Merit laureates by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: conferral of the distinctions to the Honourable Member of the Order of Merit laureates by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: conferral of the distinctions to the Member of the Order of Merit laureates by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: European Order of Merit 2026 (video)

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: introductory remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

European Order of Merit 2026: extracts from the arrival, meeting and press point with Maia SANDU, President of the Republic of Moldova

The European Order of Merit: honouring those who shaped Europe

European Order of Merit – Conferral ceremony

European Order of Merit side event - Panel discussion.

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: Gathering of the laureates (recorded)

Arrival of Maia SANDU, President of Moldova and Honourable Member of the European Order of Merit laureate

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: arrival of the Distinguished Members of the Order of Merit laureates

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: arrival of the Honourable Members of the Order of Merit laureates

European Order of Merit - Conferral ceremony: arrival of the Members of the Order of Merit laureates

Press point by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Maia SANDU, President of Moldova and Honourable Member of the European Order of Merit 2026 laureate

Clip: European Order of Merit

Opening statements by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the Conferral of the Order of Merit

Infoclip: European Order of Merit medals

European Parliament Annual Session - Order of merit announcement: European anthem

Official opening of the session and Order of Merit announcement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

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