The EU’s Nobel Prize means that it must do even more to overcome its current crises, and increase its role as a force for peace and prosperity

This morning the Nobel Prize Committee announced that they had awarded its annual peace prize to the European Union in recognition for its efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation in Europe over the past 60 years. Maurice Fraser argues that it would be a pity if the award goes down in the history books as belated recognition of a job well done. Now, the EU must recover the sense of self-belief that first drove it by restoring its economic competitiveness, promoting free trade, increasing its role in conflict prevention and resolution, and making a greater effort towards sharing defence responsibilities with its partners.