President to receive European Order of Merit: Ceremony planned for next week in Strasbourg

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu is a laureate of the European Order of Merit, a distinction awarded for her significant contribution to European integration and the promotion of EU values. The award ceremony for the Order will be hosted on 19 May by the European Parliament.

Several laureates of the European Order of Merit are expected to attend the event. According to an announcement by the European Parliament, they include Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany; Lech Wałęsa, former President of Poland; Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister of Poland and former President of the European Parliament; Aníbal Cavaco Silva, former President and Prime Minister of Portugal; Pietro Parolin, Cardinal and Secretary of State of the Holy See; Wolfgang Schüssel, former Federal Chancellor of Austria; Javier Solana, former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy; Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank; Marc Gjidara, lawyer and researcher; Sandra Lejniece, physician, scientist and academic leader; Oleksandra Matviychuk, human rights lawyer; and Viviane Reding, former Vice-President of the European Commission, former member of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg and former Member of the European Parliament.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola announced in early March this year in Strasbourg the names of the first laureates of the European Order of Merit, who have made significant contributions to European integration. Among them is President Maia Sandu.

Last year, on the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the Bureau of the European Parliament decided to establish the first European distinction of this kind awarded by an EU institution – a civil distinction to honor the achievements of individuals who have made a significant contribution to European integration or to the promotion and defense of European values. Each year, up to 20 laureates may be named.