The honour "confers on Europe an even greater responsibility to preserve its unity and its capacity to promote growth and jobs and foster solidarity among members," a statement said.
It said the prize, "which every European is proud of", was a tribute to post-World War II efforts to create a union "based on the values of democracy, liberty and solidarity".
The statement said there was a new responsibility now to create a continent that is "more united, more just, stronger and a bringer of peace".
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