Here is a verbatim of her statement:
For many the news from Oslo that the European Union had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 came as a surprise. Some believed it odd that this recognition was awarded at a time when social tensions and xenophobia are on the rise and when the EU is mired in crisis: an economic crisis, but also a crisis of confidence. The uncertainty we are living through means real hardship for many of our citizens. Along with their jobs, their pensions and their savings, they have also lost confidence in the European project. Extremists abuse our current economic woes to pander populist messages while for others it is proof that Europe is increasingly irrelevant on the world stage. But we cannot let our commitment to peace be undermined by populism or self-derision.
I see the award is a timely reminder of what our Union stands for and the fundamental principle it was built around - transforming a war torn continent into a union of democracies. For those that rebuilt Europe from the rubble of war, it is still a miracle that the wounds of conflict could be overcome to give former enemies a common future. Since then, the EU has offered membership to country after country, bolstering their democracies and including them in the world's largest internal market. Today the EU continues to exude its drawing power and serves as a stabilising force beyond its borders.
For all these achievements we should not be complacent. With their prestigious recognition the Nobel committee also sent a clear message to the EU: we must protect a Union built on six decades spent in the pursuit of peace from disintegration and resurgent nationalisms.
At a time when some like to portray the EU as a "has been", the Nobel peace prize is a recognition that resonates with all generations. The many congratulations we received from leaders and individual citizens around the globe are also a reminder that - despite the recent gloom surrounding the EU- the commitment to peace never goes out of fashion.
Rather than rest on our laurels, we should take the award as a boost to step up our engagement for lasting peace and prosperity. We need to make Europe's mission for peace a forward-looking one. I am happy and proud to be part of opening a new chapter in the EU's external relations through a unique creation- the European External Action Service. The Nobel Peace Prize puts new wind in our sails to reach out and help those who do not enjoy the same freedoms as we do and whose lives might be threatened by war, deprivation or hunger.
From Afghanistan to Somalia the EU will continue to champion human rights around the globe. To do so, it deploys all of its capacities, its expertise in crisis prevention and resolution, the diplomatic skills of its staff on the ground, and development aid to assist those in need. In the wake of the Arab spring, we have refashioned our approach to promote democracy and prosperity together with our closest neighbours. We are also lending our strongest diplomatic efforts in leading negotiations with Iran and, as part of the Quartet, to secure peace in the Middle East.
African holds a special place in our external relations. We are working tirelessly to help our partners achieve the Millennium Development Goals, as we recognise that human rights, democracy and peace – our founding values – cannot prosper amidst suffering and poverty. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that people around the globe can count on the EU to give them a helping hand.
I hope that the ability to support others in their struggle for democracy and freedom will also be a source of inspiration to those who have lost faith in our project. That it will encourage them to continue to work together so that many more generations in Europe and beyond can enjoy what we cherish every day: peace, democracy and the guarantee of fundamental freedoms.
No comments:
Post a Comment