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Nobel Peace Prize awarded to European Union | Nobel Peace Prize awarded to European Union |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for six decades of work in advancing peace in Europe. | The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for six decades of work in advancing peace in Europe. |
The committee said the EU had helped to transform Europe "from a continent of war to a continent of peace". | The committee said the EU had helped to transform Europe "from a continent of war to a continent of peace". |
The award comes as the EU faces the biggest crisis of its history, with recession and social unrest rocking many of its member states. | The award comes as the EU faces the biggest crisis of its history, with recession and social unrest rocking many of its member states. |
The last organisation to be given the award outright was Medecins Sans Frontieres, which won in 1999. | The last organisation to be given the award outright was Medecins Sans Frontieres, which won in 1999. |
Announcing the award, Nobel committee president Thorbjoern Jagland acknowledged the EU's current financial problems and social unrest. | Announcing the award, Nobel committee president Thorbjoern Jagland acknowledged the EU's current financial problems and social unrest. |
But he said the committee wanted to concentrate on the body's work over six decades of advancing "peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights". | But he said the committee wanted to concentrate on the body's work over six decades of advancing "peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights". |
'Biggest peacemaker' | 'Biggest peacemaker' |
Mr Jagland highlighted the EU's work in sealing the reconciliation between France and Germany in the decades after World War II. | Mr Jagland highlighted the EU's work in sealing the reconciliation between France and Germany in the decades after World War II. |
And he praised the organisation for incorporating Spain, Portugal and Greece after their authoritarian regimes collapsed in the 1970s. | And he praised the organisation for incorporating Spain, Portugal and Greece after their authoritarian regimes collapsed in the 1970s. |
The EU's reconciliation work had now moved to Balkan countries, pointing out that Croatia is on the verge of membership. | The EU's reconciliation work had now moved to Balkan countries, pointing out that Croatia is on the verge of membership. |
Senior EU figures were overjoyed with the award. | Senior EU figures were overjoyed with the award. |
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on his Twitter feed: "It is a great honour for the whole of the EU, all 500 million citizens, to be awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace prize." | EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on his Twitter feed: "It is a great honour for the whole of the EU, all 500 million citizens, to be awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace prize." |
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the award was recognition for the work of "the biggest peacemaker in history". | European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the award was recognition for the work of "the biggest peacemaker in history". |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she regarded the Nobel as a "personal incentive" to build on six decades of peace in Europe. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she regarded the Nobel as a "personal incentive" to build on six decades of peace in Europe. |
"We must never forget that in order to keep this peace, democracy and freedom, we have to work hard over and over again," she said. | "We must never forget that in order to keep this peace, democracy and freedom, we have to work hard over and over again," she said. |
The BBC's Europe correspondent Matthew Price says the EU's achievements are clear, but the committee has picked a strange time to highlight them. | The BBC's Europe correspondent Matthew Price says the EU's achievements are clear, but the committee has picked a strange time to highlight them. |
The eurozone crisis has made the EU look more divided and fragile than it has for decades, he says. | The eurozone crisis has made the EU look more divided and fragile than it has for decades, he says. |
EU 'like Yugoslavia' | EU 'like Yugoslavia' |
Alongside the chorus of praise, several eurosceptic politicians were quick to deride the award. | Alongside the chorus of praise, several eurosceptic politicians were quick to deride the award. |
Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) likened the EU project to the former Yugoslavia. | Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) likened the EU project to the former Yugoslavia. |
"Rather than bring peace and harmony, the EU will cause insurgency and violence," he said. | "Rather than bring peace and harmony, the EU will cause insurgency and violence," he said. |
Dutch eurosceptic Geert Wilders questioned the timing of the award. | Dutch eurosceptic Geert Wilders questioned the timing of the award. |
"A Nobel prize for the EU at a time Brussels and all of Europe is collapsing in misery. What next? An Oscar for Van Rompuy," he said. | "A Nobel prize for the EU at a time Brussels and all of Europe is collapsing in misery. What next? An Oscar for Van Rompuy," he said. |
The Nobel committee has rarely shied away from controversy with its choice of winner. | The Nobel committee has rarely shied away from controversy with its choice of winner. |
US President Barack Obama won the award in 2009 despite leading a country that was fighting two separate wars. | US President Barack Obama won the award in 2009 despite leading a country that was fighting two separate wars. |
And the choice of detained Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in 2010 enraged China, which made an official complaint to Norway. | And the choice of detained Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in 2010 enraged China, which made an official complaint to Norway. |
This year's Nobel Prize for literature winner, Chinese writer Mo Yan, said on Friday he hoped Mr Liu would be freed as soon as possible. | This year's Nobel Prize for literature winner, Chinese writer Mo Yan, said on Friday he hoped Mr Liu would be freed as soon as possible. |
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