Zelenskyy received the European Order of Merit at the European Parliament
Kyiv • UNN
Zelenskyy was inducted into the European Order of Merit for defending EU values. The award was also received by Maia Sandu, Angela Merkel, and the band U2.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been officially inducted into the European Order of Merit as an honorary member. The ceremony took place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where, for the first time in history, individuals were honored for their contribution to European integration and the defense of EU values. This was reported on the official website of the European Parliament, according to UNN.
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The Order was established on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration as the first pan-European award of its kind from EU institutions. During the ceremony, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated that Europe was "built by people who chose solidarity over discord," and the order itself is intended to honor those who "defended and developed Europe."
Merkel, Sandu, and U2 awarded alongside Zelenskyy
Among the first laureates and honorary members of the order were also former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of Moldova Maia Sandu, former President of Poland Lech Wałęsa, and members of the Irish band U2. Ukrainian human rights activist Oleksandra Matviichuk was also included in the list of awardees.
The European Parliament emphasized that the award is granted to individuals who have made a "significant contribution to European integration, the promotion, and the defense of European values." The presentation ceremony was conducted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola.