Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union is met with praise, derision

Some reaction to the European Union being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday:

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“The stabilizing part played by the European Union has helped to transform a once-torn Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace” — Nobel committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland.

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“The EU is an unique project that replaced war with peace, hate with solidarity. Overwhelming emotion for awarding of Nobel prize to EU.” — Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, on Twitter.

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“I think it’s an absolute disgrace. I think it brings the Nobel Prize into total disrepute.” — Nigel Farage, head of Britain’s euroskeptic U.K. Independence Party.

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“Nobel prize for the EU. At a time Brussels and all of Europe is collapsing in misery. What next? An Oscar for Van Rompuy?” — Dutch euroskeptic lawmaker Geert Wilders, referring to Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council.

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“If they want to give the prize for preserving the peace in Europe, they should divide it between NATO and the EU. Until the end of the Cold War, it was NATO more than anyone else that kept the peace.” — former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind.

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“It is indeed a great honour for all the 500 million citizens of Europe, for all the member states, for all the European institutions — this Nobel prize for peace. It is justified recognition for a unique project that works for the benefit of its citizens and also for the benefit of the world.” — European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso