"The Nobel Peace Prize of 2012 focuses on the extraordinary achievements of the past six decades and provides a timely reminder that the more transient difficulties of the present need to be set in the wider context of unrivalled achievements for a Union that stands ready to continue its contributions to peace, democracy and human rights around the world," EU Ambassador to India Joao Cravinho said reacting to the announcement.
He said that for centuries, Europe was the stage for war after war and the deep scars from these wars have led several generations of Europeans to choose a new, ambitious and immensely innovative path to peace.
"We have chosen to share our decisions, to pool our resources and to unite our destinies. And through this process of ever-deepening integration, we have succeeded in banishing the spectre of war from our countries.
"Over these decades, the EU has become the most far- reaching and successful peace project that the world has known. And indeed, through successive EU enlargements and outreach, peace, democracy and human rights have also made giant steps in our neighbouring countries and regions," he said in a statement.