Nobel Peace Prize goes to the EU to the sound of protests

Yesterday the leaders of the European Union were awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in the Oslo City Hall. The EU was awarded with the prize for “the six-decade contribution of the Union and its predecessors to promoting peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.” On behalf of the European Union the award was accepted by President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso (center), President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy (left), and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. All three European politicians were given diplomas and gold medals with engraved profile of Alfred Nobel. The experts admit that this prize is viewed as support for the EU in the hard time of financial crisis. According to Euronews, the ceremony was attended by Norway’s king and his wife, Norwegian politicians, and international guests, as well as by more than 20 EU leaders, including France’s president Francois Hollande and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel. At the same time, hundreds of activists of human rights organizations are protesting in the streets of the Norwegian capital against the decision of the Nobel Prize Committee. In their opinion, the EU carries out war operations, leads aggressive trade policy, and uses repressive methods concerning African immigrants.