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Wikipedia / European Order of Merit

The European Order of Merit is an order of merit awarded by the European Parliament. The order was founded on the 75th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration in May 2025, the first appointments were in March 2026. The selections are made by a selection committee appointed by the Bureau of the European Parliament.

Only 20 people can be awarded the order each year. Elected members and civil servants of the institutions of the European Union cannot be awarded for the duration of their term or employment.

The European Order of Merit feature three classes.

The first inductees were awarded at a ceremony in Strasbourg on the 19 May 2026.

Recipients

The first recipients of the order were announced on 10 March 2026.

Distinguished members

Honourable members

Members

Insignia and rights

The laureates of the order were awarded, in Strasbourg, at a ceremony in May where they were conferred a ribbon bar and badge. For Distinguished Members they will wear the badge from a collar.

Members are granted access to the gallery in the European Parliament.

Members may be degraded by the Selection Committee if found to have committed a criminal offence, shown the Union disrespect, or inappropriately used the order's insignia. Otherwise, Members may be withdrawn if appointed under a false pretense.

Selection committee

Recipients are appointed by a selection committee. The committee sits for four years and is appointed by the Bureau of the European Parliament. There are seven members on the committee, being the President of the European Parliament, two Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, and 4 prominent European public figures.

The incumbent committee:

References

See also