U2 Named to European Order of Merit

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2026-03-10)

U2 have been announced as winning the European Order of Merit today. They will each receive the Member of the European Order of Merit award. The European Order of Merit awards are new this year, launched to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration from which European unity started. It is the first European distinction of its kind, and U2 are among the first to be nominated.

The laureates were announced by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola today. An official ceremony to present the awards will take place during the European Parliament session in May 2026.

From the European Parliament website, eligibility is defined as “Individuals who have significantly contributed to European integration or promoted and defended values enshrined in the European Union Treaties (e.g., human rights, democracy, rule of law).”

The nominations are as follows for 2025, announced today.

Distinguished member of the European Order of Merit:

Angela Merkel, Former Federal Chancellor of Germany
Lech Wałęsa, Leader of Solidarnosc and former President of the Republic of Poland
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine

Honourable Member of the European Order of Merit:

Valdas Adamkus, Former President of Lithuania
Jerzy Buzek, Former Prime Minister of Poland and former President of the European Parliament
Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Former President and Prime Minister of Portugal
Sauli Niinistö, Former President of Finland and former Speaker of the Parliament of Finland
Pietro Parolin, Cardinale and Secretary of State of the Holy See
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova
Javier Solana y de Madariaga, former EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy
Wolfgang Schüssel, Former Federal Chancellor of Austria
Jean Claude Trichet, Former President of the European Central Bank

Member of the European Order of Merit:

José Andrés, Chef and founder of the NGO “World Central Kitchen”
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Basketball player
Marc Gjidara, Lawyer and scholar
Sandra Lejniece, Physician, scientist and academic leader
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Human Rights Lawyer
Viviane Reding, Former Vice-President of the European Commission, former Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg, former Member of the European Parliament
Paul David Hewson, known as Bono, David Howell Evans, Adam Charles Clayton and Laurence Joseph Mullen Jr, the Musicians and Members of U2 band

u2songs.com was formerly known as u2wanderer.org. Follow us on Twitter | Facebook