Tuesday, December 11, 2012
This year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the EU in a ceremony at Oslo City Hall, on December 10. The presidents of the three main EU institutions received the diploma and the medal on behalf of the EU, and the event was attended by the majority of the heads of state or government of the member states.
European Council President Van Rompuy hailed this award as crowning evidence of "the fraternity between European nations, now and in the future," while European Commission President Barroso stressed the importance of the euro as "one of the most visible symbols of unity which is in everyone's hands ". "We will stand by it," he declared.
At the Nobel Banquet held after the award ceremony, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras addressed the European leaders, outlining the situation in Greece and the hardships faced by the Greek people. He called on them to help secure social cohesion, which is particularly threatened by the high rate of unemployment, particularly amongst youth, and consequent emergence of extremism. 
