The prestigious peace prize was collected in Oslo on Monday by Herman Van Rompuy, Jose Manuel Barroso and Martin Schulz, the EU's three "presidents" after a bitter Brussels fight over which one of them should take the trophy.
Despite a year marked by riots in many European capitals and the real prospect of break up caused by the euro crisis, Mr Barroso hailed the EU as "a remarkable journey which is leading us to an 'ever closer Union'".
"Today one of the most visible symbols of our unity is in everyone's hands. It is the euro, the currency of our European Union. We will stand by it," he said.
Mr Van Rompuy insisted that the EU deserved the award despite deep divisions between Northern and Southern countries, soaring unemployment and popular anger against austerity programmes imposed by Brussels.
"The test Europe is currently facing is real," he said. "We will come out of this together, and stronger."
He added that he hoped future generations would "say with pride 'Ich bin ein Europaer', 'Je suis fier d'etre Europeen', 'I'm proud to be European'".
The three EU presidents awkwardly collected a Nobel peace prize traditionally collected by one individual laureate to the sound of trumpet fanfares but only 20 - out of 27 - EU leaders showed up to share the glory.
Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who was a commission official then an MEP before moving into Westminster politics, attended the ceremony after David Cameron declined to attend the lavish two-day celebrations surrounding the prize.
Mr Clegg, who attended the Oslo ceremony on a day trip at "minimal cost", insisted that the peace prize was for ordinary people despite growing hostility to the EU and open questioning of Britain's future in the Union, both domestically and in Brussels.
"Today's prize is a tribute to the people of Europe, not an institution. For centuries, the idea of Europe and peace was a contradiction in terms," he said.
Thorbjoern Jagland, the chairman of the Nobel committee which awarded the prize after the EU was nominated by Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said Europe had gone from being ﾓa continent of war to becoming a continent of peaceﾔ.
"In this process the EU has figured most prominently," he said, but added, "peace must not be taken for granted."
Three previously peace prize laureates, including South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, criticised the award last week because the EU relies on "security based on military force and waging wars" rather than pacifism.
Norwegian peace protesters outside the ceremony echoed the criticisms and highlighted recently tabled EU federalist demands, supported by France and Germany, for a European army.
Also backing a federal Europe, Mr Barroso stressed that today's EU "is only a stage on the way to the organised world of the future".
"This federalist vision is one of the most important contributions that the EU can bring to a global order in the making," he said.
Despite a year marked by riots in many European capitals and the real prospect of break up caused by the euro crisis, Mr Barroso hailed the EU as "a remarkable journey which is leading us to an 'ever closer Union'".
"Today one of the most visible symbols of our unity is in everyone's hands. It is the euro, the currency of our European Union. We will stand by it," he said.
Mr Van Rompuy insisted that the EU deserved the award despite deep divisions between Northern and Southern countries, soaring unemployment and popular anger against austerity programmes imposed by Brussels.
"The test Europe is currently facing is real," he said. "We will come out of this together, and stronger."
He added that he hoped future generations would "say with pride 'Ich bin ein Europaer', 'Je suis fier d'etre Europeen', 'I'm proud to be European'".
The three EU presidents awkwardly collected a Nobel peace prize traditionally collected by one individual laureate to the sound of trumpet fanfares but only 20 - out of 27 - EU leaders showed up to share the glory.
Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who was a commission official then an MEP before moving into Westminster politics, attended the ceremony after David Cameron declined to attend the lavish two-day celebrations surrounding the prize.
Mr Clegg, who attended the Oslo ceremony on a day trip at "minimal cost", insisted that the peace prize was for ordinary people despite growing hostility to the EU and open questioning of Britain's future in the Union, both domestically and in Brussels.
"Today's prize is a tribute to the people of Europe, not an institution. For centuries, the idea of Europe and peace was a contradiction in terms," he said.
Thorbjoern Jagland, the chairman of the Nobel committee which awarded the prize after the EU was nominated by Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said Europe had gone from being ﾓa continent of war to becoming a continent of peaceﾔ.
"In this process the EU has figured most prominently," he said, but added, "peace must not be taken for granted."
Three previously peace prize laureates, including South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, criticised the award last week because the EU relies on "security based on military force and waging wars" rather than pacifism.
Norwegian peace protesters outside the ceremony echoed the criticisms and highlighted recently tabled EU federalist demands, supported by France and Germany, for a European army.
Also backing a federal Europe, Mr Barroso stressed that today's EU "is only a stage on the way to the organised world of the future".
"This federalist vision is one of the most important contributions that the EU can bring to a global order in the making," he said.
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