It is important to open the debate on the Nobel Peace Prize not only in the European Union but in Serbia too, as it is very important country for the EU, the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, ambassador Vincent Degert said on December 10th, opening the debate “EU as (un)finished project: Nobel Peace Award – Prize or Consolation”.

During the panel discussion, organised by the EU Info centre and European Movement (EMiNS) in Serbia Novi Sad branch, Degert also said that the Nobel Peace Prize award is in accordance with the wish of generations of European politicians and citizens that the Old continent become a peace zone, a result that was achieved in the last 60 years.

According to him, nowadays, together with the EU’s achievements goes its responsibility, because “war is not conceivable, but it is not impossible”, which was demonstrated in the Balkans It is in that direction we have to move, Degert added.

“The facts demonstrate that the EU deserved Nobel Prize. Maybe it could have happen in 2007, for 50 years of existence, but it has deserved it”, journalist Dimitrije Boarov said, adding that against Europe are only those who believe that first option to solve the problems is war.

Belgrade University professor Nikola Samardzic estimated that Nobel prize given to the EU was “a good news per se” and that gives hope that Serbia would “soon share the same destiny as Eastern Europe countries that have joined the Union in 2004”. “People come to the EU in search for freedom. I’d like that we in Serbia are as poor as Europeans”, he added.

Historian Cedomir Antic disagreed that EU deserved Nobel Peace Prize saying that Second World War ended because Europe had ceased to be the economic and political center of the world. He said also that Europe did not have unified approach towards the ex-Yugoslavia and that its meditation for peace did not succeeded.

He estimated that today the EU cannot survive because of a large economic crisis.

EMiNS vice-president Borivoje Erdeljan expressed satisfaction that its NGO celebrates 20 years of existence by organising such an important event.

The event was attended by several dozens of Belgrade and Novi Sad universities students.

Degert said, also, he would be very satisfied to come back here in 10 or fifteen years to congratulate the leaders of the Western Balkans for obtaining the Nobel Prize for reconciliation.