The European Parliament will host the inaugural European Order of Merit ceremony on 19 May in Strasbourg, where the first laureates will be recognised for their contribution to European integration and the promotion and defence of European values.
The ceremony will take place in Parliament’s hemicycle and will be streamed live. According to Parliament, 13 of the first 20 laureates are expected to attend and will address the chamber after receiving their distinction.
Among those expected at the ceremony are former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu and former European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet.
Other expected laureates include former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, former EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and former European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding.
The European Order of Merit was launched on the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, described as the starting point of European unity. Parliament said the distinction recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to European integration or to the promotion and defence of values contained in the EU treaties.
The Order consists of three levels: Member of the Order, Honourable Member of the Order and Distinguished Member of the Order.
Appointments are made through an annual procedure under which up to 20 laureates may be selected each year. Parliament said the decision is taken by a selection committee appointed by the Bureau of the European Parliament.
The current committee members are Roberta Metsola, Ewa Kopacz, Sophie Wilmès, Michel Barnier, José Manuel Barroso, Josep Borrell and Enrico Letta.
