At the Open Society Institute in Brussels, though, director Heather Grabbe called it a "wake-up call to European leaders to look up from the endless euro negotiations and remember what the project is ultimately all about - peace as well as prosperity".

BBC: Nobel Peace Prize: Surprise in Brussels at award for EU

In addition, and without implying they would necessarily agree with the views expressed here, the author would like to thank: Lajos Bokros, Robert Braun, Martin Bruncko, Robert Cooper, Pavol Demes, Jeremy Druker, Michel Foucher, Andrew Gardner, Heather Grabbe, Charles Grant, Istvan Gyarmati, David Kral, Mart Laar, Edward Lucas, Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Jiri Pehe, Sandra Pralong, Olli Rehn, Gyorgy Schopflin, James Sherr, Pirkka Tapiola, Emma Udwin and Alexander Vondra.

ECONOMIST: Sources and acknowledgments