The European Parliament has conferred its inaugural European Order of Merit on a group of high-profile figures, including former German chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former Polish president Lech Wałęsa.
The new award, created in 2025 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, recognises individuals for their “significant contribution to European integration and the promotion and defence of European values”. It is the first European distinction of its kind granted by an EU institution, with up to 20 laureates appointed each year.
“Europe has always been built by people. Bridging divides, breaking barriers, overthrowing dictatorships and overcoming crises for a better future for our continent. This European commitment deserves to be celebrated. With the European Order of Merit, we honour those who did not simply believe in Europe, but who helped build it”, Metsola said when announcing the first laureates.
Merkel, Zelensky and Wałęsa were named Distinguished Members, the highest of the order’s three categories. Recipients were chosen by a selection committee made up of Metsola, European Parliament Vice-Presidents Sophie Wilmès and Ewa Kopacz, and former EU figures Michel Barnier, José Manuel Barroso, Josep Borrell and Enrico Letta.
People like Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova; Wolfgang Schüssel, former Federal Chancellor of Austria; Javier Solana, former EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy; and Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank, were rewarded as Honourable Members
Former European Commission vice-president Viviane Reding and human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk were appointed Members of the order, together with the Irish band U2.
In total, 20 people were bestowed honours.
The European Parliament hosts the European Order of Merit ceremony live from Strasbourg.
In this inaugural ceremony, laureates will be recognised for their significant contribution to European integration and promotion and defence of European values ↓ https://t.co/XetuvRNxoI
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) May 19, 2026
In her acceptance speech, Germany’s former leader called on the EU to stay on course and continue to regulate the internet and social media.
She said that the foundations of democracy were under threat.
“Continue along the path of regulating social media,” she urged. “Continue along the path of regulating artificial intelligence.”
“To believe that responsibility for spreading information is no longer necessary, that one will not be held accountable for lies, will undermine the foundations of democracy,” Merkel told the EP.
She admitted that errors in restrictions on freedom could happen, but said this was tolerable.
🚨BREAKING 🚨
Angela Merkel fordert radikale Freiheitseingriffe, KI-Verbot und Medienkontrolle! Ich hab‘s immer gewusst: Sie hat nichts mehr zu verlieren und zeigt ihr wahres Gesicht. "Fehler in Freiheitseinschränkungen seien tolerierbar" – Merkel war FDJ-Mitglied in der DDR. pic.twitter.com/1Cqt9wIbd0
— DavidGegenGoliath (@_david_brg) May 19, 2026
Conservative and right-leaning MEPs have criticised the choices, particularly Merkel’s award.
They point to her migration policies in 2015–2016, her government’s energy deals with Russia, and argue these contributed to current challenges on the continent.
Many MEPs chose not to attend the ceremony in protest of granting the award to Merkel.
They were from right leaning groups such as the Patriots for Europe, European Conservatives and Reformists, and Europe of Sovereign Nations group.
On signs they brought to the European Parliament it read ‘Wir schaffen das” and “Merkel ruined the EU, referring to the infamous- words of Merkel that opened the borders of the continent to migrants and triggered a massive crisis.
“Angela Merkel should not be rewarded with tax-funded medals”, the Swedish Democrats said.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) MEPs, who boycotted the ceremony, posted on X that their seats — which were supposed to remain empty as a visible sign of protest — had instead been filled with staffers brought in to applaud and cheer.
“Unbelievable proceedings in the European Parliament”, AfD MEP Tomasz Froelich wrote on X.
“In a moment, Angela Merkel will be honoured with the European Order of Merit. The patriotic factions are boycotting this, and their seats should remain empty. To counter this political message, in defiance of all parliamentary conventions, hired applauders have been placed in the seats of our members of parliament. Madness!”
Unfassbarer Vorgang im Europäischen Parlament: Gleich wird Angela Merkel mit dem Europäischen Verdienstorden geehrt. Die patriotischen Fraktionen boykottieren das, ihren Ränge sollten leer bleiben. Um diese politische Botschaft zu konterkarieren, wurden entgegen aller… pic.twitter.com/lr5NnUk1Pf
— Tomasz Froelich (@TomaszFroelich) May 19, 2026
