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EU Awards Top Order of Merit to Merkel, Zelenskyy, Walesa

5/20/2026

27 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The European Parliament will present the top tier of the European Order of Merit to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—who will not attend—and former Polish President Lech Walesa in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Other honorees such as Vatican diplomat Pietro Parolin and the band U2 will receive lower-level distinctions.
Thirteen of roughly twenty laureates are expected to be present and give brief speeches.

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Story summary

The European Parliament will present the top tier of the European Order of Merit to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—who will not attend—and former Polish President Lech Walesa in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Other honorees such as Vatican diplomat Pietro Parolin and the band U2 will receive lower-level distinctions.
Thirteen of roughly twenty laureates are expected to be present and give brief speeches.