The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was announced in Oslo. In 2012, the award was awarded to the European Union. The ceremony is broadcast live on the award website. As the organizers explained, the EU received the prize for the development of democracy in Europe and reconciliation between the countries of the region after the Second World War.

The statement emphasizes that the European Union represents “a brotherhood among peoples.” "The EU has helped transform Europe from a war-torn continent into one where peace has long flourished," the statement said. The Norwegian Nobel Committee noted that awarding the prize to the European Union should help intensify the efforts of its members to overcome the debt crisis.

According to Reuters , the Speaker of the European Parliament Martin Schulz has already responded to the committee’s decision, who, according to him, is “very touched” by it.

In 2012, the European Union turned 60 years old: in 1952, the European Coal and Steel Community was created, on the basis of which the EU was subsequently formed. The first participants in the organization were France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The purpose of its creation was to prevent wars between France and Germany.

The EU currently has 27 members. The last of them - Bulgaria and Romania - joined the bloc in 2007.

The debt crisis, which was mentioned in a statement by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, has hit Greece, Spain and Portugal the hardest. Due to the accumulation of external debt, experts do not rule out a possible default by Greece and its exit from the eurozone. It is difficult for analysts to predict what consequences this may lead to.

The award, which is worth ten million Swedish kronor (about 1.15 million euros), according to Agence France-Presse , will take place at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10. It is not specified who exactly will receive the award as an EU representative.

The 2011 peace prize winners were Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee, and Yemeni human rights activist Tawakkul Karman. All of them were awarded for their struggle for women's rights.

The European Union received the Nobel Peace Prize