European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize

OSLO, BRUSSELS The European Union (EU) has won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the Oslo-based Nobel Committee announced on Friday. The EU won the award for its historic role in uniting the continent and its merits in strengthening peace, reconciliation and protection of democracy and human rights in the past 60 years. European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize According to Norwegian NRK TV, the decision was unanimous and it comes as a surprise to many since the EU is struggling to resolve the biggest economic crisis in history. “The Committee this way sent a message to the European people to preserve everything they have achieved in the last six decades,” Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said announcing the award in Oslo. Many have reacted immediately by saying that the decision is “highly controversial” and “clearly political”. Explaining its decision, the Nobel Committee stressed the EU’s historical role in bringing France and Germany together after World War II and its perceived impact in spreading reconciliation and democracy beyond the Iron Curtain that once divided Europe and in the Balkans. “The stabilizing part played by the EU has helped to transform most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace,” Jagland said. The Nobel Committee added that the EU also helped incorporate Greece, Spain and Portugal after the fall of totalitarian regimes in the 70s. “The admission of Croatia as a member next year, the opening of membership negotiations with Montenegro, and the granting of candidate status to Serbia all strengthen the process of reconciliation in the Balkans,” Jagland said. Brussels “proud, overwhelmed” European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schultz stated after the announcement that he was “honored and touched” as well as “overwhelmed”. “This will serve as an additional inspiration. The EU is a unique project that replaced war with peace, hate with solidarity,” he said on Twitter. “It is a justified recognition for a unique project that works for the benefit of its citizens and also for the benefit of the world. One must not forget that the Union was born from the ashes and destruction of the WWII and that it brought together many nations in peace,” European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso pointed out. He added that the “EU is something precious, something that we need to keep”. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize recognized the bloc's role as the “biggest peacemaker in history”. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton stressed that “in the countries of the EU, historic enemies have become close partners and friends”. The prize worth EUR 1mn will be presented on December 10 in Oslo. B92 Tanjug

European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize

According to Norwegian NRK TV, the decision was unanimous and it comes as a surprise to many since the EU is struggling to resolve the biggest economic crisis in history.

“The Committee this way sent a message to the European people to preserve everything they have achieved in the last six decades,” Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said announcing the award in Oslo. Many have reacted immediately by saying that the decision is “highly controversial” and “clearly political”.

Explaining its decision, the Nobel Committee stressed the EU’s historical role in bringing France and Germany together after World War II and its perceived impact in spreading reconciliation and democracy beyond the Iron Curtain that once divided Europe and in the Balkans.

“The stabilizing part played by the EU has helped to transform most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace,” Jagland said.

The Nobel Committee added that the EU also helped incorporate Greece, Spain and Portugal after the fall of totalitarian regimes in the 70s.

“The admission of Croatia as a member next year, the opening of membership negotiations with Montenegro, and the granting of candidate status to Serbia all strengthen the process of reconciliation in the Balkans,” Jagland said.

Brussels “proud, overwhelmed”

European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schultz stated after the announcement that he was “honored and touched” as well as “overwhelmed”.

“This will serve as an additional inspiration. The EU is a unique project that replaced war with peace, hate with solidarity,” he said on Twitter.

“It is a justified recognition for a unique project that works for the benefit of its citizens and also for the benefit of the world. One must not forget that the Union was born from the ashes and destruction of the WWII and that it brought together many nations in peace,” European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso pointed out.

He added that the “EU is something precious, something that we need to keep”.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize recognized the bloc's role as the “biggest peacemaker in history”.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton stressed that “in the countries of the EU, historic enemies have become close partners and friends”.

The prize worth EUR 1mn will be presented on December 10 in Oslo.