During ceremonial events marking the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the establishment of a new award – the Order of Europe.
The Head of State noted that Ukraine has already come a long way to the EU: negotiations on Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union have begun, and the first negotiating cluster has already been opened. According to the President, every such step brings Ukraine and the European Union, Ukrainians and all of Europe, closer together.
“Behind every such success of the state stand our citizens, our warriors, and all our people who protect the security and the future of all of Europe. And who, through all their actions every day, bring closer not merely accession, but our affirmation as an integral part of the common European home. And behind every such step also stand our like-minded people from other countries – true friends and allies, tested by time and struggle, who have proven that Ukraine and Europe are one,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The President noted that Ukraine will honor all such individuals with a new state award – the Order of Europe, which will become a symbol of the effectiveness of our joint defense of Europe.
“Ukraine has fully earned the right to have an order with this very name – earned it through its round-the-clock fight for Europe’s life. And all those who have stood and continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in this fight will be honored with this distinction: Ukraine’s Order of Europe,” the Head of State stressed.
The Order of Europe will honor people for outstanding personal merit in supporting Ukraine’s strategic course toward full membership in the European Union, for their significant contribution to helping Ukraine strengthen its resilience in defending its independence and the security of all of Europe, for strengthening international cooperation in the interests of democracy, peace and good-neighborliness, and for fostering friendly and comprehensive relations among nations.
