The European Union (EU) has been named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for its unique role in uniting the continent.
The award is seen as a morale booster for the bloc which struggles to resolve its debt crisis.
The EU has been a key in transforming Europe “from a continent of wars to a continent of peace,” Committee chairman ThorbjoernJagland said in announcing the award in Oslo.
Reuters quoted him as saying that “this is a message to Europe to do everything they can to secure what they’ve achieved and move forward.” Jaglandaddedthat it was a reminder of what would be lost “if the union is allowed to collapse.”
He praised the 27-nation EU for rebuilding Europe after World War Two and for its role in spreading stability after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
The prize, worth $1.2 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10.