The Nobel Peace Prize: why Schulz should go to Oslo

Many in the European Union have the title to go to Oslo to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. From the legal and political points of view, the EU is not well prepared. The question, it appears, will be discussed at the next summit of Heads of State and Government on 18-19 October. This shows that there is not an immediate simple and clear response. The leaders will discuss democratically and find a solution, as in Europe we have always done.

More than one solution is possible, the experts claim, and the choice will be made both on the basis of the Treaties and of an evaluation of political opportunity. Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is not the same as signing an international agreement or a trade agreement that establishes rules and constraints. The delivery of the Nobel Prize is more a symbolic act, a public gesture. So anyone can go, you do not need to have a particular legal position.

The award was given to the European Union, which is composed of 500 million people, and is more or less democratically represented by a President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, a president of the European Commission, Josè Manuel Barroso, the rotating President of the EU Council of Ministers, for this semester the Cypriot Dimitris Christofias, and the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. The first three of these can claim legal rights of representation, which are essential foundations of democratic society. The one who has the strongest legal position is van Rompuy, who represents the Union internationally. The fourth, Schulz, has no right of legal representation of the Union. But he heads the only institution directly elected by 500 million European citizens. And it is for this reason that he should represent the Union when receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Because it is also my prize, as it is of all the other EU citizens. We have all contributed to these years of peace. The founding fathers of united Europe are no longer with us, for biological reasons, but their project is still there. European integration was motivated not just to create prosperity, but to build a peaceful future for European citizens, and Europeans citizens have (more or less) supported this. So the Nobel Peace Prize should be received by he who most closely represents Europeans.

Lorenzo Robustelli