#32026D01817Decision of the selection committee of the European Order of Merit of 2 March 2026 on appointments to the European Order of Merit
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This decision formally appoints 25 individuals to the newly established European Order of Merit in three categories: Distinguished Members, Honourable Members, and Members. The highest category, Distinguished Members, includes former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Honourable Members include former heads of state and senior European figures such as Valdas Adamkus, Jerzy Buzek, Sauli Niinistö, and Jean-Claude Trichet. The Members category recognizes a broader group including basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, U2 band members, human rights activist Oleksandra Matviychuk, and former EU Commissioner Viviane Reding. The Order was created in 2025 to honor significant contributions to European integration and the values in the EU Treaties.
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Key Changes
- Appointment of 3 Distinguished Members: Angela Merkel, Lech Wałęsa, Volodymyr Zelenskyy effective 2 March 2026
- Appointment of 10 Honourable Members including Valdas Adamkus, Jerzy Buzek, Sauli Niinistö and Jean-Claude Trichet
- Appointment of 7 Members including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oleksandra Matviychuk, Viviane Reding and the band U2
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
Forward the Decision on appointments to the European Order of Merit to all 25 laureates concerned
Publish the Decision on appointments to the European Order of Merit in the Official Journal of the European Union
Comply with the Rules on the European Order of Merit as laid down in the Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 5 May 2025
Apply Article 6 of the Rules on the European Order of Merit when making appointments to the Order
Assess proposals for appointment to the Order in accordance with the selection committee's rules of procedure