The EU has established a new order of merit awarded by the European Parliament. It is conferred upon persons “who have made a significant contribution to European integration or promoted and defended the values enshrined in the EU treaties (e.g. human rights, democracy and the rule of law)”.
Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany, Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, and Lech Wałęsa, leader of Solidarity and former President of Poland, were this week in Strasbourg appointed honorary members of the European Order of Merit.
The newspaper Bild writes that former Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday 19 May was awarded the European Order of Merit, the EU’s highest distinction. She received the EU Order of Merit in its highest rank from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In addition, 19 other personalities from politics, culture, and sport were honoured.
The jury justified Merkel’s distinction by reference to her constant leadership in Europe and her role in the Lisbon Treaty, which regulates the structure of the EU. Portugal’s former Prime Minister and jury member José Manuel Barroso praised her “tireless commitment to European integration and to shared values, to bridging the East-West divide and to strengthening Europe’s stability and cohesion”.
Merkel grew up in communist East Germany. In her speech in Strasbourg, Merkel called for more regulation of social media and artificial intelligence. The EU is already a pioneer and should continue along this path, she said. The foundation of democracy is undermined if people are not held accountable for lies. Europe’s Enlightenment is threatened by social networks when, for example, “facts are no longer facts” and “truths can be called lies”, Merkel claimed.
Merkel’s government opened Germany’s borders to migrants and asylum seekers in 2015 and 2016 without asking its own voters. More than one million predominantly male Muslim immigrants arrived in the country within the space of a few months. Ursula von der Leyen was German Minister of Defence at that time.
Merkel has also received other distinctions. On 8 February 2023 she was in Ivory Coast in West Africa to receive an award from UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The jury of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize awarded the 2022 prize to Merkel in recognition of her efforts to receive migrants.
“All the members of the jury were moved by her courageous decision in 2015 to welcome more than 1.2 million refugees, especially from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea. This is the legacy she leaves behind.” This was stated by Denis Mukwege, president of the jury and recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.
For this event there were gigantic posters of Angela Merkel everywhere in Yamoussoukro, the capital of Ivory Coast. People throughout the city spoke about the former German Chancellor. Many in Yamoussoukro said that they admire Merkel: “She was a true leader. She accomplished a great deal. She also helped migrants come to Europe and opened the door to many thousands,” one resident stated.
Angela Merkel får Nansenprisen for å ha sluppet inn over en million migranter
The United Nations is evidently enthusiastic that Merkel’s government opened Germany and Europe to large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers. In October 2022 Merkel also received the Nansen Award from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).