President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Maia Sandou conferred with European Order of Merit

During a European Parliament session in Strasbourg, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Moldovan President Maia Sandu were conferred with the newly established European Order of Merit, one of the European Union’s highest civilian distinctions recognising contributions to European integration and European values. Former Polish President and Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and several other European political figures and public personalities were also among the first laureates of the award.

The Moldovan President delivered an impassioned speech in Parliament in which she dedicated the distinction to the Moldovan people, saying they deserved European Union membership after years of resisting oligarchic influence, authoritarian politics and Russian interference. Maia Sandu said Moldova continues to face Russian pressure and attacks on its energy infrastructure while pursuing its European path and urged the European Union to accelerate Moldova’s accession process.

Lech Wałęsa, the former trade union leader who played a central role in Poland’s struggle against Soviet-backed communist rule, also addressed Parliament following the ceremony. In his speech, Wałęsa highlighted the importance of Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion and urged Europe to continue supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. He compared Ukraine’s current predicament to Poland’s own struggle in the 1980s to free itself from Soviet domination and stressed the importance of European unity in the face of geopolitical threats.

You can watch the ceremony here.

The full list of recipients is being posted below

Distinguished Members

• Angela Merkel
• Lech Wałęsa
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Honourable Members

• Valdas Adamkus
• Jerzy Buzek
• Aníbal Cavaco Silva
• Sauli Niinistö
• Pietro Parolin
• Mary Robinson
• Maia Sandu
• Javier Solana
• Wolfgang Schüssel
• Jean-Claude Trichet

Members

• José Andrés
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Marc Gjidara
• Sandra Lejniece
• Oleksandra Matviichuk
• Viviane Reding
• Bono
• The Edge
• Adam Clayton
• Larry Mullen Jr.