President Barroso expressed the European Commission's sincere congratulations to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)...

2013 Nobel Peace Prize

...for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2013.

11/10/2013

"The decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee is a powerful recognition of the important role of the OPCW in curbing the use of chemical weapons. The EU is determined to assist in the destruction of the stock of chemical weapons.

About 100 years ago, during World War I, Europe has experienced the suffering caused by the use of chemical weapons itself. Syria now demonstrates that these abhorrent acts are still not eradicated from human behaviour. The OPCW faces an unprecedented challenge in its current effort in Syria, where its joint mission with the United Nations is being actively supported by the European Union.

The international community carries a collective responsibility to end the use of chemical weapons once and for all. The OPCW plays a key role in this collective effort, which the European Union fully supports, politically and by being the biggest contributor to OPCW.

In the light of many worrying developments over the last year, the European Union will continue to work tirelessly for peace and reconciliation, for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights and offer concrete support and solidarity to those people and countries in need."

Read more about how the European Union used the 2012 Nobel peace prize award money under the EU Children of Peace Initiative