[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE EU FOR RECEIVING THE 2012 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, December 10, 2012, Nobel 
Committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland presented European Leaders with 
the Nobel Peace Prize. The European Union (EU) received the 
distinguished award for its promotion of peace and human rights. Since 
the end of World War II, Europe has seen six decades without wars, 
turning a continent historically known for conflicts into a continent 
of peace.
   Since the formation of the European Union's initial organizations, 
there has not been a single hostile incident between the member states 
now known as the European Union. While there has been violence and war 
on the edges of the EU, such as the Balkan Wars, these did not happen 
between EU members, and now with the goal of full EU membership the 
nations of the Balkans are beginning to look forward to the future.
   Membership in the EU requires a nation to have a fully operating 
democratic government, protection of civil liberties for a broad 
variety of minorities, recognition of private property and a fully 
functioning free enterprise economy. EU membership is a demand for 
democracy and free enterprise which brings peace and security to every 
country that has joined. The growth from six western European countries 
to an organization of 27 member states that represent over 500 million 
people with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $17.6 trillion is a 
transatlantic accomplishment worth noting for generations to come. The 
U.S. can take pride in the support and cooperation it has provided the 
EU over the years, with both our economies representing 54% of world 
GDP and is responsible for 14 million ``on shored'' jobs on both sides 
of the Atlantic.
   Mr. Speaker, peace is not simply an era without war, but a common 
goal we share and are committed to maintaining. Both our constituencies 
are faced with terrorism, climate change, and recovering economies. 
These problems know not of party lines or of national borders. We are 
encouraged by the EU's achievements as a community of nations that have 
overcome so much in the pursuit of peace. Where there was war, now is 
peace. As we continue to work closer with our allies in the EU, I am 
confident that where there is now peace, peace shall remain.
   Both the EU and the U.S. face a recovering economy. Towards that 
end, we are encouraged to hear of preliminary discussions regarding a 
comprehensive trade agreement with the EU and the impact it will have 
on jobs and economic growth for our economies. While the reduction of 
spending by nations is required, our efforts should also support a 
special emphasis on job creation. With the EU and the U.S. as the 
largest trade partners for each other, reduction in tariff and non-
tariff barriers will help facilitate a job creating environment 
providing hope for the citizens we represent.

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