EU wins Nobel Peace Prize

[Grig]

(Reuters) - The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for its long-term role in uniting the continent, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said on Friday, an award seen as morale boost for the bloc as it struggles to resolve its debt crisis.

The committee praised the 27-nation EU for rebuilding after World War Two and for its role in spreading stability to former communist countries after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK said an hour before the announcement that the EU would win.

The prize, worth $1.2 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 1.

It's ridiculous in my view. The EU was close to falling apart and they get the peace prize? Might as well hand it to Spain and Greece as that's where all the money is going to go. There were way more worthy contenders for such an award.

I think the Nobel committee is discrediting itself. First Obama, now the EU.

[GommeInc]

Completely undeserved as the EU did nothing of the sort and given the fact it's increasing the barriers between the poor and the rich I think it's very disgusting.

The EU did not unite the continent, it was the original trade ECSC which has as its legacy as "serving to unify democratic countries of Europe" after the Cold War. The EU does not know the meaning of peac., Take Greece, Italy and Spain who are all in a state of civil unrest because of imposed regulations. Take the coutnries who have imposed those regulations also being in a state of unrest because the citizens are either poor or disgusted by their own Governments wasteful use of resources, giving vast amounts of resources to countries that are only in a mess because they've contributed in some way, shape or form.

There is no peace within the EU - high unemployment, increasing debt... The countries of Europe were re-building after WWII before the EU. It's a bit offensive to give the EU a prize for the work of the many.

EDIT: What happens when the trophy and money is given out? Will there be unrest and no peace? Maybe the Norwegians are trying to break up the EU and cause political problems by doing this :P

[-:Undertaker:-]

The two posts above are absolutely right concerning the ongoing and worsening Euro crisis, something that is driving Europe apart which was created by the European Union for political purposes and is still the reason why they won't let go despite the pain and suffering it is causing.

The one time where the European Union had the chance to keep 'peace in Europe' was when the undemocratic and fake nation (ring any bells?) of Yugoslavia was breaking up and civil war resulted... and guess who the European Commission backed? The Yugoslav central government in trying to keep Yugoslavia together. It makes sense why they backed them though, considering Yugoslavia was a smaller version of the European Union.

If anybody is to be awarded for 'keeping peace in Europe' then it would be NATO, an organisation which no longer has any point to it but which did serve a use during the Cold War - an organisation which was there to defend western European nations from the advance of the Red Army.

But then again, is anybody surprised at the EU winning after drone bomber and trigger happy Obama won it last time?

[GommeInc]

But then again, is anybody surprised at the EU winning after drone bomber and trigger happy Obama won it last time?
Indeed, you would think the Nobel Committee would award the prize to people who have actually committed to peace over a long time, thinking more about the reason of peace rather than awarding it to political bodies who wouldn't no hardship if it bit them on the bum :/ Going on current affairs is a stupid idea, Look at the Jimmy Saville controversy, he was a Saint to many before all this!

Obama was a terrible choice, even when he was listed people didn't understand why. If anything he got it for being good at speeches at the time, something a US school could of done, using gold stars and a school report.

[Grig]

Also, they have not united "most of Europe", the bulk of the Eastern block are not part of the EU. Whilst the EU takes pride in uniting nations; yet, they won't accept nations such as turkey because they are mostly 'Muslim' etc. Such hypocrisy.

Another idiotic comment I heard a top EU official say is thanks to the EU, Germany and France will never go to war again. Japan and America won't go to war again and they have no EU. It actually shows the lack of knowledge the EU has of its member countries. Germany will not go to war because of how it's political structure was re-structured after WW2 and the German people's fears of swerving anywhere right again.

And you wonder why the EU is not working after such comments. An organization largely unpopular across a lot of Europe, causing tensions, wins a prize for peace. Anyone see the irony there.

[Kardan]

I read this on BBC News and knew immediately that Undertaker would post in this thread, I'm glad I'm not disappointed :P I also agree in the general confusion of why it was awarded to the EU, but as said before, it's not a surprise since Obama got it for just being good at reading a script :P

[CrazyLemurs]

This might seem like a pretty useless post, but I don't see how the EU as a whole can win.
It's a group of 27 countries, not one person who has done something productive towards peace. How does the EU expect to share this $1.2m? Will 27 countries each get $40k or so? Or will it be uneven? Will tiny little countries get anything?

[Chippiewill]

Naturally Mr Farage had an opinion on the issue:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19926638

[-:Undertaker:-]

"Chairman of the Nobel committee is Thorbjørn Jagland who also happens to be Secretary General of the Council of Europe.."

Says it all.

[GommeInc]

"Chairman of the Nobel committee is Thorbjørn Jagland who also happens to be Secretary General of the Council of Europe.."

Says it all.
I like how people are saying it will restore faith in the EU with them winning this award.. No it won't and it hasn't. It's a Nobel Peace Prize, the Oscar of the Nobel Prizes :P

[karter]

This might seem like a pretty useless post, but I don't see how the EU as a whole can win.
It's a group of 27 countries, not one person who has done something productive towards peace. How does the EU expect to share this $1.2m? Will 27 countries each get $40k or so? Or will it be uneven? Will tiny little countries get anything?


It's not about the prize money o_O. Any body can win the Nobel Peace Prize, earlier unicef and United nations have won these. It's just an honour. A lot of people work together to get all this going so if you hand out the prize to just one person it will be kinda unfair

[CrazyLemurs]

My main point was that the organisation could win it.
But evidently, it has happened numerous times in the past so it's not unusual xD