History

The early years
The Mérite européen was introduced on 8 February 1969 in Paris, at the Club de l’ABC de l’Europe, by François Visine. This club was to become the Fondation du Mérite européen, a non-profit-making association established in Luxembourg in 1970. It was placed under the honorary presidency of the President of the Luxembourg Government on 18 March 1983. It has its headquarters in Luxembourg.

Since the 1970s successive Luxembourg Prime Ministers – from Gaston Thorn, Pierre Werner and Jacques Santer to Jean-Claude Juncker – have played a major role in developing and extending the influence of the Fondation du Mérite européen. They have always been unstinting in the invaluable support they have given to the work done by François Visine, the founder, and his friends. In autumn 1989
the Foundation was recognised as a public service corporation by a Grand-Ducal decree.

In the early years its activities focused mainly on the publication of works on Europe, such as the very well known “dictionnaire Visine de l’Européen”, which was a standard reference work in Europe for many years, until the advent of the computer and the Internet. Reference may also be made to a draft “European constitution” in 1990, which showed the relevance, commitment and visionary side of the Foundation and its founder.

The second phase of its existence

In the second phase of its existence the Fondation du Mérite européen ceased producing its publications as plenty of information on Europe became available online, and it confined its activities to conferring awards. This is generally done at an academic event attended by eminent Europeans.

More recently
While numerous awards were initially awarded mainly to important politicians or leading figures in the European Union institutions as well as journalists, the Foundation – always concerned about adjusting to a changing, constantly evolving Europe – decided also to honour people who are contributing in any way and in any area to the reputation and development of the European Union. The scope of the awards was thus extended to cover eminent humanists, scientists, and cultural, literary and artistic figures in the wider sense but also those who are endeavouring to promote the European idea at grassroots level, either in schools, associations or clubs, etc.

2010, a year of major innovations and new
developments
In 2010 the Fondation du Mérite européen celebrated its 40th anniversary. To mark this occasion, it created two new highly prestigious awards: the “grand collier” and the “collier du Mérite européen”.

Eager to increase its influence in synergy with other important organisations, the Fondation du Mérite européen entered into partnership and cooperation agreements with the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l’Europe (Virtual Resource Centre for Knowledge about Europe, or CVCE) and the University of Luxembourg

The cooperation agreement between the FME and the CVCE was signed on 7 June 2013. The first event was organised to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great European Pierre Werner, a former Prime Minister of Luxembourg and “father” of the euro. The programme included a colloquium on the Werner Plan and the subsequent development of Economic and Monetary Union.

An agreement was also signed on 18 September 2014 between the University of Luxembourg and the Fondation du Mérite européen. The numerous contacts that preceded this agreement showed a clear desire to work in synergy and come up with common concrete projects.

These recent examples of cooperation will give rise in future to major European events that will help to spread Europe’s influence in Luxembourg and beyond.

The Fondation du Mérite européen also decided to establish and develop an “Association des médaillés” (Association of medal-holders), which is intended to maintain a relationship between all the eminent persons who have received awards by means of events organised by the Foundation and the organisations with which it cooperates.

The members of the Association will benefit in three ways: they will be kept regularly informed of the activities of the Foundation, be offered the opportunity to meet with other medal-holders and, where appropriate, play an active part in carrying out projects that the Foundation will undoubtedly be organising with the University, the CVCE and European institutions.

François Visine