EU leaders receive Nobel Peace Prize

Today the Nobel laureates receive their prizes in ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo. On Monday in Oslo, the Nobel Prize for Peace was handed to representatives of the EU, this year’s winner.

The prize was received jointly by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

These three institutions are considered to be the cornerstones of the EU, who received the prize for its role in uniting the continent after two world wars.

Some of the critics of the EU receiving the prize this year point out how the Euro zone economic crisis has exposed the weaknesses in the Bloc's nations.

Nobel committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland referring to the economic crisis said "the political framework in which the union is rooted is more important than ever".

He added "We must stand together, we have collective responsibility," as he warned of a risk of new nationalism in Europe.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso lamented on Europe's single currency

At the ceremony there was applause when the leaders of France and Germany stood up, holding hands.

Listen to Matthew French, reporting from Scandinavia: