Pierpaolo Barbieri : Nobel awarded to EU stirred controversy . He says the European Union helps ensure peace after barely 25 years old of war and dictatorship . Europe is the world 's largest market , offering an arena for trade and commerce , he says . In a country where philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset had once written that `` Spain is the problem and Europe the solution , '' the promise of integration underwrote Spain 's first-ever successful experiment with democracy . Barbieri : Americas financial crisis reveals need for reform , but EU is still worth having .
Pierpaolo Barbieri : Nobel awarded to EU stirred controversy . He says the European Union helps ensure peace after barely 25 years old of war and dictatorship . Europe is the world 's largest market , offering an arena for trade and commerce , he says . Barbieri : Americas financial crisis reveals need for reform , but EU is still worth having .