Nobel Peace prize money to support children affected by war and conflicts
The European Commission has today formally accepted the Nobel Peace Prize money on behalf of the European Union and indicated that it intends to allocate the prize money to children affected by war and conflicts across the world.
President Barroso said, "The Nobel Peace Prize stands for reconciliation throughout the world. The prize money should benefit the first hope for the future, but also the first victims of present and past conflicts: children".
The approximate €930,000 will be allocated to children most in need. In the coming weeks, the Commission will decide on the details of the project, including the precise terms of reference, beneficiaries' selection process and legal and budgetary aspects.
The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union as announced on 12 October. It will be formally jointly received on December 10 at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo by Commission President José Manuel Barroso, the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and the European Parliament President Martin Schulz.
The presidents will be accompanied by four young Europeans, authors of the winning entries to the competition launched today by the European Union. "Peace, Europe, Future: What does Peace in Europe mean to you?" is the question put to 8 - 24 year olds from the EU and acceding or candidate countries. Children aged 8 to 12 should express their answer in a drawing, young people aged 13 to 24 in a short text of maximum 120 characters, in any of the 23 EU official languages. Anyone within the age range can participate. The contest will be open until 25 November, midnight CET. A jury will select three of the winners (one per age group) while the fourth will be chosen in a public Facebook vote.