Nobel Peace Prize a source of great pride, says EU envoy

The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize for the European Union (EU) triggered jubilation here in the EU resident mission with its envoy saying it was "a source of great pride" for all those who work for the 27-nation organisation.

"The award of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union is a great honour and a source of deep pride for all those who work for the EU," said the EU Ambassador to India Joao Cravinho.

In its citation, the Nobel committee said the EU had helped transform Europe "from a continent of war to a continent of peace."

The last organisation to be given the award was Medecins Sans Frontieres in 1999.

"For centuries, Europe was the stage for war after war. The deep scars from these wars have led several generations of Europeans to choose a new, ambitious and immensely innovative path to peace," Cravinho said.

"Over these decades the EU has become the most far-reaching and successful peace project that the world has known," he said.

"And indeed, through successive EU enlargements and outreach, peace, democracy and human rights have also made giant steps in our neighbouring countries and regions," the envoy stressed.

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 focuses on the extraordinary achievements of the past six decades, he said.

"It 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," he said.

India has forged a strategic partnership with the EU, which now is the largest trading partner of India.