fredag 19. oktober 2012

A fantastic week

A week has passed since the Nobel Peace Prize Committee decided awarding this year's prize to the European Union. What a fantastic week this has been for me and many colleagues in Oslo and Brussels!

We have been working closely with the institutions in Brussels, clarifying the way the European Union will receive the Prize and participate in the series of event related to it. You see that some important decisions have already been taken and the three presidents of the EU institutions (European Council, Commission and Parliament) all will come to Oslo. 

The press and many people keep asking me whether I had anticipated the EU to win the Prize this year. Yes, I have always thought that one day this would happen, simply because the European Union has done and does as much as anybody for peace, reconciliation and development in Europe and in the world.

Nevertheless, this year's decision came as a surprise to us; therefore it has been even more gratifying. Clearly, the EU gets the Prize in difficult and testing times. I expect that it will become an important source of inspiration for our future efforts.

I see that in Norway and elsewhere in Europe there is a broad and interesting debate about the Committee's decision and its impact. We have got a lot of messages of congratulation (sent to the Delegation or to me), highlighting the merits of the EU getting the Prize. I'd like to use also this blog to thank all those who have passed on their good wishes to us.