Mar 10, 2026, 1:23 p.mMar 10, 2026, 1:23 p.m
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives the European Order of Merit from the European Parliament for her commitment to the EU and its values. The 71-year-old CDU politician is one of the first 20 recipients of the award, which was announced by Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Strasbourg. The order honors personalities who have made significant contributions to European integration and European values, as the EU Parliament announced.
Angela Merkel is honored.Image: keystone
Along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former Polish President Lech Walesa, Merkel will receive the highest of three levels of honor. Other medals go primarily to former presidents and prime ministers of EU countries as well as former heads of institutions such as the European Central Bank and NATO, but also personalities from sports, the Catholic Church, non-governmental organizations – and also music. The rock band U2 under frontman Bono is also honored.
Merkel navigated through numerous European crises
Merkel was known as Europe’s crisis manager during her term in office from 2005 to 2021. Over the course of 16 years, the CDU politician moderated the global financial crisis from 2007, the Euro crisis from 2010, the refugee crisis in 2015 and, last but not least, Brexit and the corona pandemic. She took part in more than 100 summits of European heads of state and government.
Just a few days ago, Merkel called on European countries to show unity and unity in the face of global crises and wars. “Europe must take its fate into its own hands more than ever,” she said in Hamburg.
Proposals for appointments can be submitted by the presidents of the EU institutions, the heads of state and government of the Member States or the presidents of national parliaments. A ceremonial awarding ceremony for the medal is scheduled to take place during the parliamentary session in May. The award was introduced last year. (dab/sda/dpa)