The European Parliament is to award its European Order of Merit for the first time on Tuesday.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former Polish President Lech Walesa are among the first laureates, though Zelenskyy will not be attending the presentation ceremony in Strasbourg in person.
The EU says the award is for contributions to European integration or for people who promote and defend the bloc's core values.Merkel, seen here at a CDU conference in 2026, is being honored for her commitment to European ideals [FILE: February 2026]Image: Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images
Figures from politics, sport, science and culture
Merkel, Zelenskyy and Walesa are to receive the highest of three levels of the honor.
