Winners of EU Prize for literature revealed

The 12 winners of this year's European Union Prize for Literature, which recognises the best new and emerging authors in Europe, have been revealed.

This year’s winners come from across Europe - Tanja Stupar-Trifunović (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Christophe Van Gerrewey (Belgium); Antonis Georgiou (Cyprus); Bjørn Rasmussen (Denmark); Paavo Matsin (Estonia); Selja Ahava (Finland); Nenad Joldeski (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia); Benedict Wells (Germany); Gast Groeber (Luxembourg); Claudiu M. Florian (Romania); Jasmin B. Frelih (Slovenia) and Jesús Carrasco (Spain).   

Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, said: “I warmly congratulate all 12 winners of this year’s European Union Prize for Literature. With cultural and linguistic diversity at its heart, this prize honours new and emerging authors from across Europe, helping them reach new readers outside their home countries. Literature and the free written word enable us to better understand ourselves and others – something that is today more important than ever. That is why we will keep supporting the translation, publishing, sale and reading of foreign literary works.”  

The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) is open to the countries participating in Creative Europe, the EU funding programme for the cultural and creative sectors 2014-2020. Every year, national juries in one third of the participating countries - 12 this time - nominate the winning authors. See annex for authors' biographies and a synopsis of the winning books.

Each winner receives €5,000 (£4,000). More importantly, the authors benefit from extra promotion and international visibility at Europe's major book fairs, including Frankfurt, London and Paris. Publishers are encouraged to apply for EU funding to have the winning books translated into other languages to reach new readers.

This year's prize winners will be presented with their awards during a public awards ceremony at Concert Noble in Brussels on 31st May, in the presence of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics; Mrs. Silvia Costa, MEP and Chair of the Culture and Education Committee and representatives of the Dutch Presidency of the EU. The EUPL is organised by the European and International Booksellers Federation, the European Writers' Council and the Federation of European Publishers, with the support of the European Commission.

The EUPL is organised by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), the European Writers' Council and the Federation of European Publishers, with the support of the European Commission.

Dr. Nick Yapp, president of the European Writers’ Council, said: “The announcement of the 2016 winners of the European Union Prize for Literature marks the beginning of a recognition and celebration of the literary talent of new writers from many European countries. It is one of those key moments when creativity is recognised and applauded. It is proof that our culture, on which so much of our enjoyment of life depends and on which so much of our economy is based, is in good hands. The European Writers's Council is delighted to have played its part in the organisation of this event, and wishes a creative future to those writers we celebrate today.”