歐洲聯盟
獲得2012年諾貝爾和平奬

European Union，簡稱歐盟，英文縮寫：EU，
是根據1992年簽署的《歐洲聯盟條約》（也稱《馬斯垂克條約》）所建立的國際組織，
現擁有27個會員國。
規範歐盟的條約經過多次修訂，
目前歐盟的運作方式是依照《里斯本條約》。
政治上所有成員國均為民主制的國家，
經濟上為世界上第一大經濟實體（其中法國、義大利、英國、德國為八大工業國成員），
軍事上絕大多數歐盟成員國為北大西洋公約成員。

歐盟是世界上最有力的國際組織，
在貿易、農業、金融等方面趨近於一個統一的聯邦國家，
而在內政、國防、外交等其他方面則類似一個獨立國家所組成的同盟。

歐盟的政治體制因與世界其他大規模的國際組織不同，
應把它視作一邦聯。

歐盟的歷史可追溯至1952年建立的歐洲煤鋼共同體，
當時只有六個成員國。
1958年又成立了歐洲經濟共同體和歐洲原子能共同體，
1967年統合在歐洲共同體之下，
1993年又統合在歐洲聯盟之下，
歐盟已經漸漸地從貿易實體轉變成經濟和政治聯盟。

European Union Wins 2012 Nobel Peace Prize

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded its 2012 peace prize on Friday to the 27-nation European Union, saying it had contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation across the continent.

With the bloc confronting the worst financial crisis in its history over the single euro currency, the award surprised some people who recalled the deep strains between Germany and other European nations over Berlin’s insistence on austerity measures that have brought pain to many, particularly in Greece. Thousands of protesters turned out in Athens earlier this week to demonstrate against a visit by Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

But Thorbjørn Jagland, the chairman of the panel awarding the prize, said it was a signal from the committee concerning reconciliation in Europe and a message to the continent to carry on such work, focusing on the union’s historical role binding France and Germany together after World War II.

The peace prize climaxes a week in which Nobel institutions have awarded prizes in science and literature that rank among the world’s most coveted emblems of excellence. The prize for economics is to be awarded on Monday.