The European Order of Merit is an order of merit awarded by the European Parliament. The order was founded on the 75th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration in May 2025, the first appointments were in March 2026. The selections are made by a selection committee appointed by the Bureau of the European Parliament.
Only 20 people can be awarded the order each year. Elected members and civil servants of the institutions of the European Union cannot be awarded for the duration of their term or employment.
The European Order of Merit feature three classes.
The first inductees were awarded at a ceremony in Strasbourg on the 19 May 2026.
Recipients The first recipients of the order were announced on 10 March 2026.
Distinguished members NameKnown forYear of appointmentAngela MerkelChancellor of Germany2026Lech WałęsaPresident of Poland2026Volodymyr ZelenskyyPresident of Ukraine2026
Honourable members NameKnown forYear of appointmentValdas AdamkusPresident of Lithuania 2026Jerzy BuzekPrime Minister of Poland/President of the European Parliament2026Aníbal Cavaco SilvaPresident of Portugal2026Sauli NiinistöPresident of Finland2026Pietro ParolinCardinal Secretary of State2026Mary RobinsonPresident of Ireland2026Maia SanduPresident of Moldova2026Javier Solana y de MadariagaHigh Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy2026Wolfgang SchüsselChancellor of Austria2026Jean-Claude TrichetPresident of the European Central Bank2026
Members NameKnown forYear of appointmentJosé AndrésFounder of World Central Kitchen2026Giannis AntetokounmpoBasketball player2026Marc GjidaraProfessor, lawyer2026Sandra LejnieceLatvian hematology professor2026Oleksandra MatviichukLawyer and human rights activist2026Viviane RedingMember of the European Commission2026Paul David HewsonMusician, lyricist, philanthropist2026
Insignia and rights The laureates of the order were awarded, in Strasbourg, at a ceremony in May where they were conferred a ribbon bar and badge. For Distinguished Members they will wear the badge from a collar.
Members are granted access to the gallery in the European Parliament.
Members may be degraded by the Selection Committee if found to have committed a criminal offence, shown the Union disrespect, or inappropriately used the order's insignia. Otherwise, Members may be withdrawn if appointed under a false pretense.
Ribbon barsDistinguished MemberHonourable MemberMember
Selection committee Recipients are appointed by a selection committee. The committee sits for four years and is appointed by the Bureau of the European Parliament. There are seven members on the committee, being the President of the European Parliament, two Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, and 4 prominent European public figures.
The incumbent committee: Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament Ewa Kopacz, Vice-President of the European Parliament Sophie Wilmès, Vice-President of the European Parliament Michel Barnier, French deputy and former French Prime Minister José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission Josep Borrell, former President of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the European Commission Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy
References
See also Charlemagne Prize
External links Official website of the order Rules on the European order of Merit EUR-Lex Fact Sheet - European Order of merit