First laureates, including Maia Sandu and Oleksandra Matviichuk, honoured with the European Order of Merit in Strasbourg

Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, and Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer, were among the first laureates of the European Order of Merit, honoured for their significant contribution to EU integration and values in a ceremony held on 19 May at the European Parliament.

A total of 13 of the inaugural 20 European Order of Merit laureates attended the ceremony 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.

“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.

Maia Sandu became an Honourable member of the Order, together with other prominent European figures. Oleksandra Matviichuk received the merit as a member of the Order.

Also admitted into the Order was Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy – as a distinguished member, together with Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany, and Lech Wałęsa, former leader of Solidarność and former President of Poland.

Last year, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the European Parliament’s Bureau decided to establish the first European distinction of its kind granted by an EU institution, to honour the achievements of individuals who are considered to have made significant contributions to European integration and to the promotion and defence of European values.

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