What is the main idea of the news item? [originaltext] (21)The European Union

(21)The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for six decades of work in advancing peace in Europe.
    The committee said the EU had helped to transform Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace. The award comes as the EU faces the biggest financial crisis of its 54-year history, (22)with many of its member states mired in recession. The committee president highlighted the EU’s work in sealing the reconciliation between France and Germany in the decades after World War II. And he praised the organization for incorporating Spain, Portugal and Greece after their authoritarian regimes collapsed in the 1970s.