Former president Mary Robinson and U2 are to be among the 20 first recipients of the European Order of Merit.
The award honours the achievements of individuals who have made a significant contribution to European integration or to the promotion of European values, such as peace, democracy and human dignity.
The announcement was made by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, at the plenary session in Strasbourg.
She said that Europe has always been built by people who have bridged divides, broken barriers, overthrown dictatorships and overcome crises, adding that at a time of global uncertainty this commitment deserves to be celebrated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and chef and founder of NGO World Central Kitchen Jose Andres will also be among the recipients.
The first laureates will be conferred with a certificate at a ceremony during a sitting of the parliament in May.
They were chosen by a committee that included former European commissioners Josep Borrell, Michel Barnier and Jose Manuel Barroso, after nominations from the presidents of the European institutions and EU heads of state or government.
The list included people from civil society, the arts, academia and politics.
The European Order of Merit was launched on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration - the starting point of European unity and aims to inspire future generations in civic courage and commitment to European ideals.
