Updated: Nobel Peace Prize awarded to EU
Video: Reuters
The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize today for its efforts to promote peace and democracy in Europe - despite being in the midst of its biggest crisis since the bloc was created in the 1950s.
The Norwegian prize committee said the EU received the award for six decades of contributions "to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.
"The stabilising part played by the European Union has helped to transform a once torn Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace," Nobel committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said in Oslo.
The EU rose from the ashes of the Second World War, born of the conviction that ever-closer economic ties would make sure that century-old enemies never turned on each other again. It is now made up of 500 million people in 27 nations, with other nations lined up, waiting to join.
The idea of a united Europe began to take on a more defined shape when, on May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed that France and the Federal Republic of Germany pool their coal and steel resources in a new organisation that other European countries could join.
"Today war between Germany and France is unthinkable. This shows how, through well-aimed efforts and by building up mutual confidence, historical enemies can become close partners," the committee said.
The citation also noted the democratic conditions the EU has demanded of all those nations waiting to join, referred to Greece and Spain when they joined in the 1980s, and to the countries in Eastern Europe who sought EU membership after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
The prize focused on the EU's historical role as a builder of peace at a time when the union's existence is under challenge from the financial crisis that has stirred deep tensions between north and south and when there are questions about the form in which the EU will survive.
"The EU is currently undergoing grave economic difficulties and considerable social unrest," Mr Jagland said. "The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to focus on what it sees as the EU's most important result: the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights.
"The stabilising part played by the EU has helped to transform most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace."
It was not yet clear who would accept the prize for the EU.
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An Cachia
Oct 12th 2012, 21:58
Better they put in the bank and lock it there before some idiots spend it on useless projects.
Alfred J. McEwen
Oct 12th 2012, 21:10
Alfred J. McEwen
It`s laughable to see the EU getting the peace prize when there`s so much unrest and unemployment in many parts of Europe.When will this top heavy EU bureaucracy get real with it`s self?
m. borg (slm)
Oct 12th 2012, 17:52
The prize money would be shared between the 27 members according to their size.
Malta will get €0.02
Shaun Anthony Camilleri
Oct 12th 2012, 16:58
Who is going to get the prize? Them fat bureaucrats?
J Buttigieg
Oct 12th 2012, 16:42
This does not make sense. The Nobel Prize should be awarded to persons not to institutions.
Joseph Brincat
Oct 12th 2012, 15:11
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to EU , I hope The prize, worth $1.2 million, will go to those countries which are in difficulties ??
Charlene Bonnici
Oct 12th 2012, 17:57
maybe malta will get something :)
J. Borg
Oct 12th 2012, 14:40
Prosit.
John Portelli
Oct 12th 2012, 14:38
What a load of Nonsence
Conrad Costa
Oct 12th 2012, 20:35
do you mean 'nonsense'? ;)
Ronald Cauchi
Oct 12th 2012, 14:35
Is this some sort of sick Joke?
Lawrence Fenech
Oct 12th 2012, 14:31
For austerity, euro or what?
Trevor Lee
Oct 12th 2012, 14:27
So will Norway be joining the EU now ?, I wont hold my breath. Peace in Europe has more to do with the nuclear deterrent. As for the Cities of Northern Europe, some have burned more than they did in WW2 due to ethnic violence. For the corrupt EU to be given this prize it is a bigger joke than the 2009 winner.
Franco Abela
Oct 12th 2012, 14:20
THANKS TO THE EU BUT NOT THE EURO
John B. Borg
Oct 12th 2012, 14:12
Where is the Nobel Prize going? Awarding the Prize to the EU is a joke in bad taste. How many EU influential member countries sell arms to countries in conflict or stood watching passively at the sidelines as they still do while wars rage all over the planet. A bad, bad choice indeed.
Karl Consiglio
Oct 12th 2012, 13:54
We should recall this event by making it a public holiday
Leonard Brincat
Oct 12th 2012, 14:08
Int bis serjeta jew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leonard Brincat
Oct 12th 2012, 14:09
Ohra jonqos ma li ghandha
Charles W. Sammut
Oct 12th 2012, 13:45
Seriously sick joke!
Karl Consiglio
Oct 12th 2012, 13:52
Why?
Anthony Scicluna
Oct 12th 2012, 13:39
To all condemning the Union, do not lose sight that Europe hasn't had such a long era of peace for centuries. It was only about 80 years ago that our grand parents and parents were suffering at the hands of other Europeans. A Union is never perfect but peace benefits all. This is not just an award to some loft "EU' but it is a gift to all of us and posterity. We should be proud.
Luke Scicluna
Oct 12th 2012, 14:41
And now, the front has moved from one of military domination to one of monetary and economic domination. Is it really that different?
Anthony Scicluna
Oct 12th 2012, 16:50
Luke, political, military and economic power all go hand in hand. The Union has eliminated the possibility of military war. It has checks and balances for economic union (not domination; where did you get the idea of domination from?). If you are really interested note the work by the Federal Commission of Fair Trade, Mergers and Antitrust.
Joanne Micallef
Oct 12th 2012, 13:21
What a slap in the face of those who truly risk persecution or their livelihood to fight for the basic human rights of others
Anthony Galea
Oct 12th 2012, 13:52
The only slap in the face comes from the people out there who sift through the positive only to look for a negative.
Joanne Micallef
Oct 12th 2012, 15:08
Yes I can totally understand giving a nobel peace prize to a bunch of millioners who sucked europe dry versus giving the recognition they deserve to those who dedicate their lives to ensure the well being of others even if in most cases this means being persecuted or worse.
Anthony Scicluna
Oct 12th 2012, 16:51
Joanne, as an EU citizen you are one of whom is being awarded.
Karl Consiglio
Oct 12th 2012, 13:13
Its a good thing to be a part of, thanks to the PN of course, lest we forget Labour were against it.
Brian Gatt
Oct 12th 2012, 15:15
Karl the nobel prize for peace to the EU is a sick joke u thallatx il-hass mall-gass local politics have nothing to do with this!!!
Charles Cremona
Oct 12th 2012, 13:07
For what ? Maybe for causing the destruction of once prosperous countries with the Euro which suits only one country whilst others like Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus and others ended up with the begging bowl.
Leonard Brincat
Oct 12th 2012, 12:58
Messhom taw il Nobel prize lil EU tal korruzzjoni rampanti u tad dizastru li gabu fil finanzi tal pajjizi ta l-ewropa kwazi kollha
Mela ma jafux xhinu ma jaghmlu dawn.
Clifton Aquilina
Oct 12th 2012, 12:57
okay !!! so
Karl Consiglio
Oct 12th 2012, 13:53
Party time!
Alan Vella
Oct 12th 2012, 12:30
Cool. Now we should put the stars of the EU alongside the George Cross on our flag.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 12th 2012, 13:36
No. Why should we? Where is the logic behind such an assertion?
J Farrugia
Oct 12th 2012, 12:23
Hey nobel, dont you think it is the peoples of europe who deserve the Nobel for having to put up with the measures imposed to us by the big wigs in Brussels which might i add was mainly caused by bankers and politicians being as corrupt as ever.???
Joseph Camilleri
Oct 12th 2012, 12:05
We should be all proud to be United to such a glorious Union.
John Azzopoardi
Oct 12th 2012, 11:50
Some people are trying to do anything to ensure that the EU does not disintegrate as we are seeing in our won eyes. The EU is controlled by the northern Europeans and the mediterranean countries are almost seen as second class citizens. Aren't those the real facts. Look what is happening to Greece, Spain and Italy and Portugal. Greece has been brought down to its knees with no solution in sight.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 12th 2012, 13:35
You are very wrong. Absolutely. They are not 'the real facts'. What happened to Greece and elsewhere is their own wrong-doing. Greece has put itself 'down to its knees' when we know that it should have been thrown out of the Eurozone from Day 1. Is Eire a Mediterranean country?
Anthony Scicluna
Oct 12th 2012, 13:40
I believe it was excessive spending that brought Greece to its knees and not the Union.
Anthony Scicluna
Oct 12th 2012, 11:40
Beautiful
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