00:00The European Parliament on Tuesday held the inaugural conferral ceremony for the newly established European Order of Merit in Strasbourg,
00:09with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receiving the highest of three levels of honour.
00:17Created to honour individuals who have made significant contributions to European integration and values,
00:24the first class included 20 laureates spanning politics, culture and sports.
00:31Merkel was elevated to the highest category of court distinguished member alongside Zelenskyy and Lech Walesa,
00:40a symbolic trio linking democratic resistance, European unity and political endurance.
00:46According to the European Parliament, 13 of the some 20 laureates accepted the honour in person.
00:54The award comes as Europe faces renewed uncertainty, Russia's war against Ukraine,
01:00pressure to massively increase defence spending,
01:04fears triggered by the second disruptive Trump presidency and intensifying competition with China.
01:10Other notable personalities such as the Vatican's top diplomat Pietro Parolin,
01:15Moldovan President Maya Sandu and former European Century Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet received lower levels of the honour.
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