By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, United Kingdom – On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the European Union with the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize for its dedication “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation” in Europe.

More specifically, the Nobel committee chose the European Union because of its 60-year-long contribution “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.” The committed focused on the EU’s reconstruction after World War II and its ability to spread stability to communist countries after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Thorbjoern Jagland, the Nobel committee chairman, said, “The stabilizing part played by the European Union has helped to transform a once torn Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace.”

However, some European citizens and groups reacted to the announcement with skepticism.

Martin Callanan, the leader of the Eurosceptic Conservatives and Reformist Party in the European Parliament, responded, “The Nobel committee is a little late for an April fool’s joke. Twenty years ago this prize would have been sycophantic but maybe more justified. Today it is downright out of touch.” He continues, “Presumably this prize is for the peace and harmony on the streets of Athens and Madrid.” Callanan references the recent violent backlash in Europe created by the EU-backed economic austerity programs.

Matthew Price, a BBC Europe correspondent, does not doubt that the EU’s achievements are well established, but he also commented that the committee “picked a strange time to highlight these achievements.” He believes that the eurozone crisis has made the EU look divided and fragile.

Conversely, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, regards the Nobel Peace Prize 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.

Similarly, French President, Francois Hollande, believes that the EU needs to prove its worthiness of the award.  He says, “we are honored, we are proud and at the same time we have our responsibilities before us.”

The prize, worth $1.2 million, will be presented in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 2012.

For further information, please see:

BBC News — Nobel Peace Prize awarded to European Union – 12 October 2012

MSNBC News — European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize – 12 October 2012

The New York Times — Europe Told to Count Its Blessings – 12 October 2012

Spiegel — European Union Wins Nobel Peace Prize – 12 October 2012