Erstellt am: 12. 10. 2012 - 15:33 Uhr

... and the winner is.. the EU!

Reality Check: EU wins Nobel Peace Prize, Vice Presidential debate and the US campaign, Ukrainian elections, First Sea

There were strong suspicions from early this morning, then at 11 o'clock the announcement came: the EU has been awarded the 2012 Peace Prize. The "huh??" moment was possibly even bigger then when President Obama won it, apparently on the basis of what it was hoped he was going to do, rather than anything he had actually done.

In the case of the EU, seemed for a moment to be getting the award despite what is has done - turning the "huh?" into a "WTF?". The EU is unquestionably in the midst of crisis. It is looking ever more likely to splinter, if not blow itself apart. There are soaring unemployment figures and desperate financial problems in some member states, and Germany is being seen by many as the bully who is imposing intolerable hardship on millions of EU citizens. So, it seems a strange moment to be patting the institution on the back for being a peace maker.

However, if you look at the bigger picture - or rather the historical context, you can see where the Nobel Committee is coming from. Over 6 decades the EU and its predecessors have certainly done a great deal to stabilize the continent and secure peace between the member states. It is also the world's largest single donor to development and aid projects, which make a significant contribution to combatting conflict in other parts of the world.

European Union expert, Johannes Pollak, from the Institute of Advanced Studies in Vienna, says he understands the thinking behind the Nobel committee's decision, but warns against reading too much significance into the award. He says that after a couple of weeks of hoop-la, interest will die down and nothing will change.

On the other hand, the Director of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Kristian Berg Harpviken, was puzzled by the award. He says that worthy at the EU might be, 2012 is the least appropriate year in which to honour its achievements, although he adds that perhaps in this year, more than any other, the EU could use the extra cash!

• The US vice presidential debate

Biden scored points off Ryan - but where does the campaign go next? Priscilla Huff reports from Washington DC that there is a bigger issue than the war of words bearing down on the two presidential candidates.

• Ukraine elections

Ukrainians go to the polls at the end of the month, but many people are worried about how free and fair the elections will really be. John Cummins reports.

Read an in depth report here

• The First Sea

A documentary on a group taking Palestinians to experience the sea for the first time.

You can read more here.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.