Covid-19 medals of honour to European emergency services  

October 2021: The EENA Conference and Exhibition 2021, organised by the European Emergency Number Association (EENA), had a very special start this morning in Riga, Latvia. 


Emergency services officials from all over Europe were awarded with EENA’s medal of honour for Distinguished Service during Covid-19 – a touching gesture that moved everyone. 
A minute’s silence was held to mourn the victims of Covid-19, a disease that has caused the deaths of upwards of 4.5 million people around the world, more than 115,000 of whom were healthcare workers. 
 
After the most challenging of years for emergency services professionals, EENA wanted to pay a fitting tribute to all those who put their lives on the line to protect our health and wellbeing. 
 
In a video recorded for the event, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, joined EENA to show the European Commission’s support and recognition to all those at the forefront of the fight against the virus. 
 
The President of EENA, Demetrios Pyrros, reiterated the symbolism of handing out these distinctions: “Medals of honour are usually the government's highest and most prestigious decoration. That's what you mean to us, and that's why we want to honour you because you are our modern-day heroes — the embodiment of courage, resilience and selflessness.” 

The EENA Conference is taking place now, until October 8. For more information, visit here.

All photos courtesy of EENA