Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the EU amid current Eurozone crisis

The European Union receives Nobel award for peace causing a reportedly surprised reaction...

15:11 13 October 2012

 

On Friday, the European Union was given the Nobel Peace Prize award at a Norwegian ceremony. The award was handed out by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, who has reportedly said their decision was unanimous.

 

The panel, made up of five members, surprised many people with their choice, and there were also speculations that the owner of the Nobel prize would belong to a Russian human rights group among other contenders.

 

The Nobel committee has explained – as reported by the BBC – that the EU came top of the list due its dealings that back date around 60 years, as it had a hand in continental unisons. The panel made reference to World War One and World War Two.

 

A shocked President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, expressed to journalists this morning that he had not perceived the events of the day would be good.

 

He said: “The message is that the European Union is something very precious.”

 

Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, said in a report by the BBC that he was proud, and that the prize nodded to the EU’s role as the “biggest peacemaker in history”.

 

The good news for the EU comes at a time when the Eurozone is in a financial crisis, where rioting and civil unrest is spread across many countries.