Volodymyr Zelensky awards Order of Merit to Portuguese Erasmus+ director

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded the Order of Merit of Ukraine to Luís Alves, the Portuguese director of the National Erasmus+ Agency. The decoration was presented during a ceremony marking Ukraine's Independence Day.

The award recognizes Alves's work in fostering cooperation with Ukraine, particularly through non-formal education and the integration of displaced Ukrainian youth. Alves noted that Erasmus+ has evolved beyond a student mobility program to become a vital instrument for training educators, empowering youth organizations, and building cooperation networks across Europe to support Ukrainian citizens during the ongoing conflict.