The Nobel Peace Prize 2012

[MIST]

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 is to be awarded to the European Union (EU). The union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.

In the inter-war years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee made several awards to persons who were seeking reconciliation between Germany and France. Since 1945, that reconciliation has become a reality. The dreadful suffering in World War II demonstrated the need for a new Europe. Over a seventy-year period, Germany and France had fought three wars. Today war between Germany and France is unthinkable. This shows how, through well-aimed efforts and by building up mutual confidence, historical enemies can become close partners.

In the 1980s, Greece, Spain and Portugal joined the EU. The introduction of democracy was a condition for their membership. The fall of the Berlin Wall made EU membership possible for several Central and Eastern European countries, thereby opening a new era in European history. The division between East and West has to a large extent been brought to an end; democracy has been strengthened; many ethnically-based national conflicts have been settled.

The admission of Croatia as a member next year, the opening of membership negotiations with Montenegro, and the granting of candidate status to Serbia all strengthen the process of reconciliation in the Balkans. In the past decade, the possibility of EU membership for Turkey has also advanced democracy and human rights in that country.

The EU is currently undergoing grave economic difficulties and considerable social unrest. The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to focus on what it sees as the EU's most important result: the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights. The stabilizing part played by the EU has helped to transform most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace.

The work of the EU represents "fraternity between nations", and amounts to a form of the "peace congresses" to which Alfred Nobel refers as criteria for the Peace Prize in his 1895 will.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2012/press.html

We can celebrate in Europe, peace price and Immortal has come to Europe

 

[MIST]

I´ve read that Michael was nominated to the peace price earlier.
I don´t know if it´s true they keep the nominees secret for 50 years

How are the Nobel Laureates selected?
September – The Norwegian Nobel Committee prepares to receive nominations.These nominations will be submitted by members of national assemblies, governments, and international courts of law; university chancellors, professors of social science, history, philosophy, law and theology; leaders of peace research institutes and institutes of foreign affairs; previous Nobel Peace Prize Laureates; board members of organizations that have received the Nobel Peace Prize; present and past members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; and former advisers of the Norwegian Nobel Institute.

Noone can nominate himself or herself.

 

[qbee]

No thats was just a rumour. Michael was never nominated and they dont keep nominees secret for 50 yrs.
Fans once had a petition to nominate him. But you cant be nominated Posthumously, You must be alive to be nominated and receive the Nobel Peace prize.

 

[MIST]

"Are the nominations made public?
The statutes of the Nobel Foundation restrict disclosure of information about the nominations, whether publicly or privately, for 50 years. The restriction concerns the nominees and nominators, as well as investigations and opinions related to the award of a prize."
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/nomination/

 

[qbee]

It states the nominations or those who nominated them are not made public for 50 yrs

Also rules state the general public can not nominate someone for the noble peace prize.

ONLY
[h=2]Qualified Nominators[/h]The right to submit proposals for the Nobel Peace Prize shall, by statute, be enjoyed by:

1.	Members of national assemblies and governments of states;
2.	Members of international courts;
3.	University rectors; professors of social sciences, history, philosophy, law and theology; directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes;
4.	Persons who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize;
5.	Board members of organizations who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize;
6.	Active and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; (proposals by members of the Committee to be submitted no later than at the first meeting of the Committee after February 1) and
7.	Former advisers appointed by the Norwegian Nobel Institute.