EUROPEAN UNION Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Lebanon Beirut, 6 December 2012 Press Release The EU celebrates the awarding of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize with Lebanese youth On the occasion of the awarding of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union and to celebrate International and European Human Rights Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon and the Lebanese University are organising a panel debate on the topic of "Peace and Reconciliation". The event will take place on Monday 10 December at the Lebanese University Central Administration in presence of Ambassadors of the EU Member States, representatives of the Justice and Human Rights Parliamentary Committees, students and academics, civil society and media. The Nobel Prize Committee has decided to award the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union for over six decades' contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. The award ceremony takes place in Oslo on 10 December, where the President of the European Council Herman Von Rompuy, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz will receive the prize. Four young Europeans, winners of the online contest on the subject of "Peace" organised by the European Union, will be joining the delegation of the EU in Oslo to collect the award. The European Union will give the award money (€930 000) to projects supporting children who are victims of war and conflicts. The Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon has also chosen to engage with youth to celebrate the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. As 10 December is also the International and European Human Rights Day, the Delegation is organising this panel debate to encourage reflection on human rights and democratic values. The panel debate will give university students and the public a possibility to discuss human rights and democracy with a panel of EU Member States Ambassadors, civil society, politicians and professors. For further information, please contact: Ms Bouchra Chahine – [email protected] – (03) 811 669 490 Harbor Drive Bldg., Charles Helou Av., Saifi, Beirut, P.O.Box 11-4008 - Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2150 Tel: (01) 569 400 - Fax: (01) 569 415 - E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/lebanon/ Information about the event The panel debate will take place from 15h-17h at the Lebanese University Central Administration's building across from the National Museum. French/English/Arabic translation will be available. Programme: 15h00-15h30: Welcome by the President of the Lebanese University Adnan Sayyed Hussein and the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst Introduction of the panelists by the moderator 15h30-16h00: First panel: "EU and Nobel Peace Prize" followed by debate with the audience 16h00-16h30: Second panel: "Lebanon and peace" followed by debate with the audience 16h30-17h00: Third panel: "Political participation" followed by debate with the audience Panel members: Ambassadors from EU Member States Ghassan El Ezzi, Professor at the Lebanese University Carmen Abou Jaoudé, International Centre for Transitional Justice Ghassan Moukheiber, Rapporteur for the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee Moderator: Nadim Houry, Director of Human Rights Watch Beirut Office For further information, please contact: Ms Rina Rasmussen – [email protected] – (76) 565 997 .