Angela Merkel receives the European Order of Merit

Together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj and former Polish President Lech Walesa, Merkel receives the highest of three levels of the award. Other medals are awarded to former presidents and prime ministers of EU countries and former heads of institutions such as the European Central Bank and NATO, as well as personalities from sport, the Catholic Church, non-governmental organizations - and music. The rock band U2 under frontman Bono will also be honored.

Merkel navigated through numerous European crises

Merkel was known as Europe's crisis manager during her term of office from 2005 to 2021. Over the 16 years, the CDU politician moderated the global financial crisis from 2007, the euro crisis from 2010, the refugee crisis in 2015 and, last but not least, Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. She has attended more than 100 summits of European heads of state and government.

Just a few days ago, Merkel called on the countries of Europe to unite in the face of global crises and wars. "More than ever, Europe must take its fate into its own hands," she said in Hamburg.

Nominations can be submitted by the presidents of the EU institutions, the heads of state and government of the member states or the presidents of the national parliaments. A formal award ceremony for the medal will take place during the parliamentary session in May. The award was introduced last year.