The European Parliament has named the first recipients of its newly established Order of Merit, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and human rights defender Oleksandra Matviychuk among the honorees, the Parliament's website reports.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the full list of laureates. The order recognizes "significant contribution to European integration, the promotion and defense of European values," according to the Parliament.
The order carries three tiers — distinguished members, honorary members, and members. Zelenskyy was named a distinguished member, while Matviychuk received the member-level distinction.
Who Is Oleksandra Matviychuk
Matviychuk chairs the Center for Civil Liberties and is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In 2014, she deployed representatives of the organization to Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk to document human rights violations and war crimes. She has since led two international campaigns — #LetMyPeopleGo and #SaveOlegSentsov — and regularly addresses international forums on torture, enforced disappearances, and the right to a fair trial in occupied Crimea. In January, she also received the international World Woman Hero award.
The Full List of Laureates
Up to 20 laureates may be selected annually. Joining Zelenskyy as distinguished members are former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Polish President Lech Wałęsa.
The honorary member category includes former Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus; former European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek; former Portuguese Prime Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva; former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö; Vatican Cardinal and Secretary of State Pietro Parolin; former Irish President Mary Robinson; Moldovan President Maia Sandu; former EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana; former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel; and former European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet.
Among the member-level recipients alongside Matviychuk: World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés, basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, lawyer and scholar Marc Gjidara, physician Sandra Lejniece, former European Commission Vice President Viviane Reding, and the members of U2 — Bono (Paul David Hewson), The Edge (David Howell Evans), Adam Charles Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.
The award ceremony is scheduled for the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, running 18-21 May.
