European Union: A half-deserved Nobel Prize
Rome (AsiaNews) -
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded today to the European Union is perhaps only half deserved
given the many areas of shadow as well as of light in the history of the EU.
The
head of the Nobel Committee, Thorbørn Jagland said the award was being given to
the EU because of its helping to "transform most of Europe as a continent
of war in a continent of peace." The
honor falls at a time when many sections of the European population are
concerned by the economic choices of their leaders, slaves of Europe's economic
iron fist.
Jagland
was quick to point out that the award is also being given because the EU has contributed
to "six decades of advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and
human rights in Europe."
But
even for this, perhaps we should remember and beat our breasts for Euorpe's immobility
and then slowness to move on the massacres in Bosnia, or the superficiality
with which it intervened in Kosovo. What's
more, we should remember the embarrassing EU attitude - at least for us
Catholics and people of good will - in launching its "anti-discrimination"
campaign in defense of de facto unions, reproductive health rights (which often
also
imply abortion); accusing the Vatican of "discrimination" over women
priests, monastic vocations suspected of being forms of
"brainwashing."
Of
course, the staff and leadership of the EU is overjoyed by this recognition. EU
Commission President Manuel Barroso, said that it "is justified recognition for a
unique project that works forthe benefit of its citizens and the benefit of the
world." It
is also true that the political and economic relations of the EU with the rest
of the world spread sensitivity on human rights and religious freedom. Work
on the sidelines with Turkey, to push it to respect religious minorities, as a
condition for its entry into the EU, has often been appreciated by the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The
commitment of Europe to Central Asia also demands recognition, where demand for
post-communist leaders to respect human rights and opposition views, with these
improvements affecting economic relations. At
the same time, however, we also have to mention the timidity with which these
"conditions" are demanded of the Chinese giant, which continues
unabated to arrest Tibetan monks and Catholic bishops, pro-democracy dissidents
and artists. It
must also be said that the EU's list of human rights, goes much further that
the UN Charter, to include those "rights" of medicine and
reproductive health, the result of ideological and anti-religious choices.
Somehow,
this Nobel Prize for Peace is as controversial as the one awarded to Barack
Obama three years ago, assigned to him on his "intention" to do
something for the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian problem: an intention
which
was not followed by any action, indeed, arriving at a boycott of the recognition
of Palestine as a UN member.
Perhaps
the Nobel Prize this year is for Obama. After
all, his competitor, Mitt Romney, has promised a tough stance toward Beijing
and more interventionism in the Middle East. But this is not the policy
desired by the EU. Could
exalting the way the EU works "for peace" be just another way to suggest:
"Vote Obama?".
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