海角大神

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded this year鈥檚 Peace Prize to the European Union, in a nod to its record of building peace and democracy on a continent long roiled by war 鈥� and perhaps as a reminder of the need to stay the course in troubled times.听

The choice surprised many speculators, who had widely tipped an East European human rights activist or promoter of inter-religious dialogue.听Although a candidate for the award in the past, the EU was regarded as less likely this year because of the widening economic crisis among some states in the 27-member economic and political union.听

But Thorbj酶rn Jagland, Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman, told journalists gathered at the Nobel Institute in Oslo that the union and its forerunners deserved the prize for having 鈥渃ontributed over six decades to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe.鈥澛燞e said the prize was both recognition of the EU鈥檚 early role as a peace broker between Germany and France, but also to mark the EU鈥檚 recent progress in the reconciliation process in the Balkans.

The EU is about to admit Croatia as a member next year, open membership negotiations with Montenegro, and has granted candidate status to Serbia.听

鈥淲e have to remember it was not that many years ago that these people were slaughtering each other on the streets,鈥� said Mr. Jagland.听He also cited the importance of Greece, Spain, and Portugal joining the EU in the 1980s with the introduction of democracy as a basis for their membership, and pointed to the fall of the Berlin Wall, which opened the door to EU membership for several Central and Eastern European countries.听

鈥淲e want to focus on what has been achieved in Europe in terms of peace and reconciliation and we want to remind us all what can happen if this integration stops and if we let extremism and nationalism start growing again in Europe,鈥� he said.听

The EU was one of 43 organizations out of the 231 valid nominations for this year鈥檚 prize. According to Geir Lundestad, Norwegian Nobel Committee secretary, the union has been a named candidate for the peace prize even under its previous form as the Coal and Steel Community.听

Experts in Norway questioned the timing of the prize given the current economic turmoil in the eurozone and the possible political implications for Norway, which has voted against EU membership in 1972 and 1994.听

鈥淚t will probably be very controversial,鈥� Kristian Berg Harpviken, director at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK ahead of the announcement. 鈥淓specially in Norway, it will probably be seen as a very political prize and a contribution to the Norwegian EU debate.鈥澛�

Jagland, a former Norwegian Labor party prime minister, current secretary general of the Council of Europe, and a proponent of Norway joining the EU, dismissed the potential ripple effect at home.听

鈥淭his is no argument in any direction for what Norway should do,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think this will affect public opinion in Norway right now. It is at an all-time low level when it comes over whether Norway should join EU or not.鈥澛�

And, he added, where a person stands on EU membership should not diminish the role the EU has played since World War II in promoting a stable Europe. 鈥淵ou can be against membership in the EU and at the same time recognize the peace making role it has had in Europe,鈥� he said.

Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, said that the award was "justified recognition聽for a unique project that works for the benefit of its countries and also the benefits of the world.

"The award today by the Nobel Committee," he added,聽"shows that even in these difficult times, the European Union remains an inspiration for countries and people all over the world and that the international community needs a strong European Union."

It is not yet been decided who will accept the award on the EU's behalf.