Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was honored on Tuesday in Strasbourg at the European Parliament, where she became one of the first recipients of the newly established European Order of Merit. Merkel was awarded the highest rank of the decoration, designated as a “Distinguished Member of the Order.”
The award ceremony marks the operational debut of the distinction, which was officially created in May 2025 ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration to recognize individuals who have made monumental contributions to European integration, democracy, and unity.
Honoring 16 Years of Crisis Leadership
The selection committee justified the honor by citing the 71-year-old’s steady, unbroken leadership over her 16-year tenure as Chancellor, specifically emphasizing her pivotal behind-the-scenes role in salvaging and enacting the Lisbon Treaty.
Former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso delivered a glowing tribute, commending Merkel’s lifelong commitment to European integration and the defense of the bloc’s foundational democratic values.
[THE EUROPEAN ORDER OF MERIT INAUGURAL RUN]
• Highest Tier ("Distinguished Members"): Angela Merkel, Lech Wałęsa, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• "Honourable Members" Present: Maia Sandu, Javier Solana, Jean-Claude Trichet
• Cultural & Civilian Inductees: Chef José Andrés, Basketball Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo, U2
A Stark Manifest: Three European Promises Under Siege
Upon receiving the insignia from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Merkel delivered a sweeping, solemn address to the plenary chamber. She reminded lawmakers of three historical constants that have anchored the continent over the last 75 years: the promises of peace, prosperity, and democracy—all of which she now views as fundamentally threatened.
- The Fragility of Peace: Merkel emphasized that Russia’s ongoing, brutal war against Ukraine has proved that peace on the continent can never be taken for granted. She added that the United States can no longer be relied upon as the “unshakeable pillar of security” it historically was.
- The Stagnation of Prosperity: The former Chancellor warned that Europe’s promise of shared wealth is under intense global economic pressure, noting that securing future prosperity requires rapid advancements in innovation and economic resilience.
- The Decay of Democratic Truth: Addressing the promise of democracy, Merkel stated bluntly that individual freedoms cannot exist without robust democratic frameworks.
Sounding the Alarm on Social Media and Artificial Intelligence
The core of Merkel’s speech focused on the rapid, unregulated expansion of digital platforms, which she directly blamed for eroding public discourse.
“To believe that responsibility for spreading information is no longer necessary — that one will not be held accountable for lies — will undermine the foundations of democracy,” Merkel warned.
She stressed that the digital space has evolved into an ecosystem where “facts are no longer facts,” where coordinated lies are accepted as truth, and where volatile emotions are substituted for objective reality. She noted that this dangerous trend is being drastically amplified by the mass proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Merkel urged European regulators to confidently double down on legislative frameworks like the AI Act and Digital Services Act, concluding that the continent must “continue along the path of regulation,” even if errors are made along the way.
