Award of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union

Posted on Oct 12, 2012 in News | 6 comments

Award of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has today awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 to the European Union, noting that the Union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe .

“It is a tremendous honour for the European Union to be awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize,” said President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso in a joint statement.

“This Prize is the strongest possible recognition of the deep political motives behind our Union: the unique effort by ever more European states to overcome war and divisions and to jointly shape a continent of peace and prosperity. It is a Prize not just for the project and the institutions embodying a common interest, but for the 500 million citizens living in our Union.

“At its origins the European Union brought together nations emerging from the ruins of devastating World Wars – which originated on this continent – and united them in a project for peace. Over the last sixty years, the European Union has reunified a continent split by the Cold War around values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

“These are also the values that the European Union promotes in order to make the world a better place for all. The European Union will continue to promote peace and security in the countries close to us and in the world at large. We are proud that the European Union is the world’s largest provider of development assistance and humanitarian aid and is at the forefront of global efforts to fight climate change and promote global public goods.

“This Nobel Peace Prize shows that in these difficult times the European Union remains an inspiration for leaders and citizens all over the world.”

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: “I am delighted at the news that the European Union has been awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of its work on reconciliation, democracy, promotion of human rights and in enlarging the area of peace and stability across the continent.

“In the countries of the EU, historic enemies have become close partners and friends. I am proud to be part of continuing this work. The creation of the European External Action Service has enabled us to develop a comprehensive approach to better promote Europe ‘s core values throughout the world.

“I will continue to work tirelessly to drive this process forward.”

European Union Ambassador to the United States Joao Vale de Almeida said: “The Nobel Peace Prize recognizes the great achievements the EU has made in regional integration for peace. What started with six countries forming a Coal and Steel Community following World War II to help secure peace and stability has grown into a Union of 27 — soon to be 28 countries — working together. We are grateful for the indispensable support we have received from the United States over the years, and together with my fellow EU Member States Ambassadors here in Washington, D.C. , I will continue to work closely with our American partners to promote peace, democracy, and prosperity around the World.”

For further information, please see: www.EUintheUS.org & @EUintheUS.

SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States

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  • Mark

    Not much peace seen among EU
    countries these days. Europe’s leaders waste days in summits where no one is
    prepared to admit the truth while the Noble Peace Prize is given to unworthy
    recipients as a gesture of pious hope. Europe’s entire governing class still
    remains in denial about the mess it has gotten itself into. The judges
    obviously forgot to take into account the never-ending rioting in the streets
    of Greece, Italy and Spain protesting against new Eurozone austerity measures
    placed on their middle class. The consequence is that too many Nobel Prize
    recipients are honored for aspirations rather than achievements, for
    proclaiming objectives which go unfulfilled, or for displaying an illusory
    semblance of virtue.

  • JohnBailey_UK

    Peace and Europe do not sit well
    together…The EU has caused more death and destruction than any other nation
    in living memory…

    NATO and NOT the ‘EU’ has kept the
    peace!!!. A Socialist Dictatorsip has just been awarded the ‘Nobel Peace
    Prize!’, you simply cannot make this stuff up!. We WANT our REFERENDUM !

  • nathomesaip

    This award to the EU must I feel
    take the prize for the most absurd and ridiculous decision I have heard for a
    long time. A totally undemocratic institution with its major players unelected
    in any real democratic form. It installs its own officials in place of formerly
    democratically elected leaders in ailing nation states that have been brought
    to their knees by the adoption of the farce that is the Euro, and for not
    keeping their finances in order. Yet this is the institution that has not had its
    own finances signed off for 13 consecutive years. The President of this awful organization
    Jose Barroso has openly declared that the object of the EU is to abolish the
    Nation State and is intent on creating its own army. What more needs to be said
    about the integrity and wisdom of the Nobel Prize Committee to make such an
    award.

  • KingRichard

    Proof, if it were needed that these fools are even more out of touch with the public than the “Head in the Sand “EU leaders and our own inept MP’s!! So, they shackle EU countries with vastly different economies and lifestyles to each other under one currency with crass comments that there would be war in Europe if the euro collapses, to the point that the southern European countries are running out of money and their people are rioting on the streets, yet the EU wins the Peace Prize. The EU isn’t what has created and sustained peace. It has been in Germany’s interest to build a prosperous society which wouldn’t have happened if there had been another war. Is it only the man on the street who sees Germany is slowly taking over in Europe without the need for war? Previous recipients have been the likes of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela – how can anyone believe an organization that has actually brought so much misery to so many is in any way entitled to be given an award previously won by such great men? Who is next for a peace prize, Al Queada?

  • Gladiatrix

    The EU has ruined all that was
    interesting, distinct and praiseworthy about Europe’s vastly divergent
    constituent countries. The Nobel Peace Prize should be renamed the Loony Left
    Wing Prize. It has no credibility, as the award criteria are saturated with
    politics – the politics of manipulation.

  • Patrick

    The Nobel Peace prize has absolutely
    no credibility left after this. It has always been a hypocritical
    gesture anyway, because Alfred Nobel only started these awards because he
    didn’t just want be remembered as the “merchant of death” for his
    invention of explosives used for military purposes.

    Robbing a
    group of naive countries of their identity does not help preserve peace.
    Peace in Europe? The Greeks were dressed as Nazis protesting against Angela
    Merkel’s visit to Athens while hoping to
    save their collapsing currency. Europe’s economies
    are stagnant, with little early prospect of improvement. The future of the
    European project is in the melting pot, and every decision-maker on the
    continent knows it. The EU wins the Nobel Peace Prize? Let them enjoy their cake while
    it lasts.