The European Union has been awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize in a recognition of unity amid economic crisis. Swiss analysts say they were surprised by the decision but found it a well-deserved reminder of the body’s accomplishments.
“I think it makes sense if the (Nobel committee) is trying to state that it’s important to underline all that the EU stands for, and that it doesn’t just stand for financial stability but also for much more basic political ideals on the European continent,” Laurent Goetschel, an expert in European affairs from Basel University, told swissinfo.ch.
The EU has been in the running for the prize for many years, on the basis of its achievements as a “successful peace project” The Oslo-based Nobel committee praised the 27-nation union for its rebuilding efforts after World War Two and for its role in helping to stabilise former communist countries after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Swiss politicians reacted that the news of the award was “fantastic” and “came at the right time”.
“I find it fantastic that this prize reminds the people of Europe that the EU is not just an economic body but also a union of peace,” parliamentarian Doris Fiala told the newspaper 20 Minuten.
Even rightwing parliamentarian Alfred Heer, whose party has traditionally stood against Swiss involvement with the EU, said that it could not be dismissed out of hand “that the EU had played a major role in the stabilisation of Europe following Second World War”.
Notable achievements abound
A Swiss government expert in peace studies and conflict mediation, who asked to remain anonymous, told swissinfo.ch that the EU also deserves recognition for more recent achievements, such as the development work it has done in Africa and Asia and the success it has had in bringing many previously economically weaker economies, such as Poland and Ireland, into the EU fold.
He said these countries had experienced an economic boom to a certain extent because of the EU’s efforts to bring everyone up to a certain level.
“Now, of course, we’re forgetting this a bit today for evident reasons, because we’re seeing the other (economic) effects. But that still has major merit that we sometimes have a tendency to forget.”
The EU had previously been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for such achievements as cementing French-German unity, consolidating democracy in southern Europe and drawing eastern European countries into cooperation with the rest of Europe, according to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.
Facing reality
The EU’s selection as this year’s Peace Prize winner comes at an interesting time because of international debate over whether the union, and particularly its common euro currency, can continue to exist in the context of the European debt crisis.
Goetshel notes that the accomplishments for which the EU was specifically recognised are not in dispute and will forever be seen as important milestones along the road to European peace. He specifically points to the importance of the EU’s political and financial role in solving internal conflicts that arose in many European countries after the fall of the Berlin wall.
However, he acknowledges the challenges it currently faces.
“It doesn’t help to solve the problems that we have today,” he says. “Many problems still need to be worked out with regard to the fiscal union. The countries must work better together with regard to taxes, finances, and financial politics, and those don’t really have much to do with the reason for the prize, but on the other hand, it’s certainly a welcome sign of solidarity from a somewhat unexpected source and that underlines the positive side of the EU process.”
“Symbolically, I find that very important. And many people may have the tendency to forget that, especially amid the current debates.”
Many analysts believed figures related to protests in Russia and to the Arab Spring movement were strong contenders for this year’s Nobel Prize. They include:
* Lyudmila Alexeyeva, considered the grandmother of Russia’s human rights movement
* Svetlana Gannushkina, leader of the Russian civil rights society Memorial
* Alexei Venediktov, editor of the Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy
* Maggie Gobran, a Coptic Christian welfare worker who runs a children’s mission in Cairo
* Nigerian religious leaders John Onaiyekan and Mohamed Sa’ad Abubakar, who have helped to calm their country’s Christian-Muslim violence this year
The committee received 231 nominations this year, including 43 organisations. It usually narrows the list to between 25 and 35 names at its first meeting to weigh candidates.