The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its achievements in bringing peace, democracy and human rights to Europe.

“Today, war between Germany and France is unthinkable,” said Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, announcing the award in Oslo today (12 October). “This shows how by building mutual confidence, historic enemies can become close partners.”

“The stabilising part played by the EU has helped to transform most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace,” he said. “The Union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.”

Jagland also cited the democratic transitions in Greece, Spain and Portugal, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. “The division between east and west has to a large extent been brought to an end,” he said.

Jagland said that Croatia’s accession to the EU next year, the opening of membership talks with Montenegro and the granting of candidate status to Serbia showed the EU’s role in fostering reconciliation in the Balkans.

José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, said that he received the news of the award “with great emotion”.

“It is justified recognition for a unique project that works for the benefit of its citizens and for the benefit of the whole world,” he said. “The EU has unified countries split by the cold war and has made this around the values of human dignity, freedom, justice, and respect for human rights. Through its transformational powers the EU was able to reunite almost all the European continent.”

“The award today shows that even in these difficult times the EU remains an inspiration for countries and people all over the world,” Barroso said.

In a joint written statement, Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, 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.”

“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,” the statement said. “Over the last 60 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.”

Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, Van Rompuy said the award was “a recognition of the work of the EU as a peace-maker”. The EU, he said, is “the biggest peace-making institution in human history.” Van Rompuy also said that Europe had been at war for centuries and described the two world wars as “European civil wars”.

Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, was the first to issue a formal statement. “The European Union has reunified the continent through peaceful means and brought arch-enemies together,” he said. “This historic act of reunification has been rightfully recognised.”

“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,” Schulz said. “These fundamental values underpin all of the European Union’s activities both internally and in our external policies. Several nations are freely negotiating accession to the European Union, a sign that despite challenging economic conditions, the European Union is a magnet for stability, prosperity and democracy.”
 
“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,” Schulz said.

It is unclear who will represent the EU at the award ceremony in Oslo on 10 December. Jagland said this was a matter for the EU to decide.

Click Here: cheap sydney roosters jersey