The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, is among the first laureates of the new European Order of Merit, a distinction created by the European Parliament for personalities who have contributed to European integration and the defense of European Union values.
The award ceremony took place on Tuesday in the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where 13 out of the 20 first laureates of the Order were present and received the honors from the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Maia Sandu was included in the category of honorary members of the European Order of Merit, alongside former heads of state and European leaders considered significant figures in European construction.
Merkel and Wałęsa, among the laureates of the Order
Angela Merkel, Lech Wałęsa, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are among the distinguished personalities designated as members of the European Order of Merit.
Among the honorary members are also Jerzy Buzek, Sauli Niinistö, Mary Robinson, Javier Solana, and Jean-Claude Trichet.
The list of laureates also includes personalities outside of politics, such as José Andrés, basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, and members of the U2 band, including Bono.
Metsola: "Europe was built by people"
In her speech at the ceremony, Roberta Metsola stated that Europe "was not given to us as a gift," but was built "with every treaty, with every crisis," by people who chose "solidarity over division."
At the announcement of the laureates in March, the President of the European Parliament stated that "Europe has always been built by people."
"Eliminating divisions, removing barriers, overturning dictatorships, and overcoming crises for a better future for our continent. This European commitment deserves recognition," Metsola declared.
The laureates were selected by former European leaders
According to the European Parliament, the laureates were selected by a committee composed of several European personalities, including Michel Barnier, José Manuel Barroso, Josep Borrell, and Enrico Letta.
Nominations were made by heads of state and government, presidents of national parliaments, and the leadership of EU institutions.
The first European distinction awarded by an EU institution
The European Order of Merit was established last year on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. The European Parliament describes it as the first European distinction of this kind awarded by an institution of the European Union.
The distinction is intended for individuals who have made significant contributions to European integration or the promotion and defense of European values. Each year, up to 20 laureates can be designated.