2012 Nobel Peace Prize

The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize
The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize
European Union
	"for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe."
Date	12 October 2012 (announcement by Thorbjørn Jagland); 10 December 2012 ; (ceremony);
Location	Oslo, Norway
Presented by	Norwegian Nobel Committee
Reward(s)	8 million SEK ($1.2M, €0.9M)
First awarded	1901
Website	www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2012/

labelled map of Europe showing progressive EU enlargements

Albania

Austria

The member states of the European Union (European Communities pre-1993), animated in order of accession. Only territories in and around Europe are shown.

The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union (EU) (founded in 1958) "for over six decades [having] contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe" by a unanimous decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

The decision highlighted the reconciliation of France and Germany, stating that "over a seventy-year period, Germany and France had fought three wars. Today war between Germany and France is unthinkable. This shows how, through well-aimed efforts and by building up mutual confidence, historical enemies can become close partners." The decision also highlighted the EU's contribution to the "introduction of democracy" in Greece, Spain and Portugal, the advancing of democracy and human rights in Turkey, the strengthening of democracy in Eastern Europe following the Revolutions of 1989 and overcoming of "the division between East and West" and ethnically based national conflicts, and finally the EU's contribution to the "process of reconciliation in the Balkans".^[1]

^ "The Nobel Peace Prize for 2012". The Norwegian Nobel Committee. Retrieved 12 October 2012.

[1] "The Nobel Peace Prize for 2012". The Norwegian Nobel Committee. Retrieved 12 October 2012.

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