The front page

The presidents of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament, along with the leaders of 20 EU member states, will be in Oslo for the ceremony to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union. “Never has such a large delegation travelled to Oslo”, says the daily, which illustrates its front page with a cartoon by Joris Snaet.

The rush to Oslo – De Standaard

Does the EU, which “is involved in more wars than ever before worldwide” deserve its Nobel prize? The daily, which has close connections with the pacifist movement, interviews nine European soldiers who served in the Balkans, the Congo and the Middle East. Most of them agree that the EU deserves the distinction, however, some argue that “others have done more for peace.”

Make peace with European arms – Frankfurter Rundschau

“Farce” or “deserved acknowledgement?” The Belgian daily examines the manner in which the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union on October 12. A poll shows that only one in four Norwegians approve of the decision by the Nobel Committee, however, its Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland insists that the choice “was not difficult and was backed by a unanimous vote."

Behind the scenes of a controversial Nobel – La Libre Belgique

After losing the support of Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right Freedom People’s party, Prime Minister Mario Monti announced he will resign after parliament approves the 2013 budget, probably around Christmas. General elections will be held mid-February and Berlusconi confirmed he will run on a ticket with separatist party Lega Nord. This improbable return has immediately sent Italian bond yields soaring. Monti is considering running for a centrist coalition to help maintain stability.

Monti, the crisis shakes Europe – La Stampa

Silvio Berlusconi’s announcement that he will run for prime minister and Mario Monti’s declaration that he intends to resign “threaten to plunge Italy and the eurozone into chaos,” the newspaper says.

The mummy returns – Libération

SPD delegates elected Peer Steinbrück as candidate for the chancellorship with 93.5 per cent of vote. He will face Angela Merkel in September 2013. In his speech, the former minister of finance, part of the SPD's right wing, pledged to create a nationwide house-building programme, deliver tax hikes, and warned against the development of two parallel societies of rich and poor.

Sensation: Steinbrück is a social democrat! – Die Tageszeitung

A contract for the management of buildings belonging to the Ministry of the Interior, including the headquarters of the police anti-corruption unit, has just been won by AB Facility, a company belonging to the Penta Group which was implicated in the Gorilla corruption scandal earlier this year. Contacted by the press, the interior minister has pledged to review the contract.

Gorilla has not stopped Penta – SME