Nobel Peace Prize shows 'EU remains an inspiration to the world'
Monday, October 15
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the European Union "shows that in these difficult times the European Union remains an inspiration for leaders and citizens all over the world,"a joint statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has said.
"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," they said, pledging that the EU would"continue to promote peace and security in the countries close to us and in the world at large".
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced today that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 was to be awarded to the European Union. "The union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe," said the press release announcing the award.
Acknowledging the difficult times the EU was currently facing, 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".
In their statement, Van Rompuy and Barroso said the prize was "not just for the project and the institutions embodying a common interest, but for the 500 million citizens living in our Union".
They said the European Union had brought together nations emerging from the ruins of devastating World Wars 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 statement added. "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."
In separate comments, Van Rompuy also stressed the EU's commitment to promoting its values: "The European Union is really the biggest peacemaking institution ever created in world history, and we have still a mission of promoting peace, democracy, human rights – in the rest of the world."
Foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also welcomed the award: "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."
The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said the peace prize was for all the citizens of the EU. "The values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights are absolutely fundamental to the European Union,"he said. "These fundamental values underpin all of the European Union's activities both internally and in our external policies."
"The EU's principles and values of reconciliation can serve as an inspiration to other regions in the world. From the Balkans to the Caucasus, the EU serves as a beacon for democracy and reconciliation," said Schulz.
(EU Neighbourhood Info)