THE decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union has been met with anger by local MEP Paul Nuttall.

"This is a ridiculous decision. You only have to open your eyes to see the increasing violence and division within the EU which is caused by the Euro project" he said.

"Never a week goes by that we don't see riots and protests in capital cities against the economic prison they inhabit. Spain is on the verge of a bail out, with senior military figures warning that the army may have to intervene in Catalonia.

"The next stage of the EU project is to abandon the nation state. The last attempt in Europe to impose a new flag, currency and nationality on separate states was called Yugoslavia. The EU is repeating the same tragic mistake.

"Rather than bring peace and harmony, the EU will cause insurgency and violence," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Deputy Party Leader.

The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for its long-term role in uniting the continent, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has said. The prize, worth $1.2 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10.