European Union Prize for Literature

The aim of the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) is to put the spotlight on the creativity and diverse wealth of Europe’s contemporary literature in the field of fiction, to promote the circulation of literature within Europe and to encourage greater interest in non-national literary works.

The Prize is financed by the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission, which aims to achieve three main goals: to promote cross-border mobility of those working in the cultural sector; to encourage the transnational circulation of cultural and artistic output; and to foster intercultural dialogue.

From 2009 to 2021, the consortium selected by the European Commission to coordinate the initiative was composed by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), the European Writers’ Council (EWC) and the Federation of European Publishers (FEP). These three members were jointly responsible for the setting up of the national juries and the practical organisation of the award ceremony.

Since 2022, the EUPL is organized by FEP and EIBF only.

The Prize competition is open to the 41 countries currently involved in the Creative Europe programme.

For more information:
Website of the Prize: www.euprizeliterature.eu (currently under relaunch)
Twitter: euplprize
Facebook page: European-Union-Prize-for-Literature
Instagram: euplprize

European Union Prize for Literature Awards Ceremony: 2019.

European Union Prize for Literature Awards Ceremony to be held on 2 October 2019, at BOZAR, Brussels

“Civilization starts with the invention of letters, which enabled reading, communion and communication with past generations, with other cultures, nations and ideals. Flaubert’s dictum ‘Read in order to live’ proposes that books teach us ethics and the human condition in any aspect, as well as exemplify the madness and achievements of our own epoch. Literature is the backbone of democracy, it teaches empathy and provides independent thinking, the mental shield against fake-news and post-factual-eras. With the EUPL we honour these inestimable values of books and, overall: their authors, the sources and voices of European diversity”, says Ms Nina George, President of the European Writers’ Council.

We are pleased to announce that the fourteen laureates of the European Union Prize for Literature(EUPL) will be officially awarded at the EUPL 2019 Awards Ceremony, taking place on 2 October 2019 in BOZAR, Brussels.

The laureates, which were announced by Mr Valer-Daniel Breaz, Romanian Minister of Culture and National Identity, and Mr Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport on 22 May 2019 at the Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union in Brussels are:
Laura Freudenthaler (Austria), Piia Leino (Finland), Sophie Daull (France), Réka Mán-Várhegyi (Hungary), Beqa Adamashvili (Georgia), Nikos Chryssos (Greece), Jan Carson (Ireland), Giovanni Dozzini (Italy), Daina Opolskaitė (Lithuania), Marta Dzido (Poland), Tatiana Țîbuleac (Romania), Ivana Dobrakovová (Slovakia), Haska Shyyan (Ukraine) and Melissa Harrison (United Kingdom).

During the official EUPL Awards Ceremony, the awards will be given by Mr Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport, Ms Hanna Kosonen, Finnish Minister of Education and Science and Ms Sabine Verheyen, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education.

Civilization starts with the invention of letters, which enabled reading, communion and communication with past generations, with other cultures, nations and ideals. Flaubert’s dictum ‘Read in order to live’ proposes that books teach us ethics and the human condition in any aspect, as well as exemplify the madness and achievements of our own epoch. Literature is the backbone of democracy, it teaches empathy and provides independent thinking, the mental shield against fake-news and post-factual-eras. With the EUPL we honour these inestimable values of books and, overall: their authors, the sources and voices of European diversity, says Ms Nina George, President of the European Writers’ Council.

The Awards Ceremony will be preceded by readings by each author in various rooms in the BOZAR and the keynote address of the Ceremony will be given by the best-selling Finnish author, Ms Sofi Oksanen.

Having the EUPL ceremony in BOZAR brings this festive evening to an entire new dimension. I am very happy that the 14 laureates of the 2019 edition will have the chance to read some of their books in this landmark cultural institution. Reading the translations in the anthology makes me impatient for these books to be translated: those 14 definitely have talent., stated by Mr Rudy Vanschoonbeek, President of the Federation of European Publishers.
The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) is an award which recognises outstanding new and emerging literary talents across Europe, and highlights the wealth of contemporary European literature, while drawing attention to the continent’s unique cultural and linguistic heritage. So far, the EUPL has rewarded 108 authors from 41 country during a decade of its existence. Last year, the EUPL celebrated its 10th Anniversary with the ‘European stories’ short story contest open for all previous laureates. Entering its new cycle, the Prize is introducing its first ever laureates from Georgia and Ukraine.
As stated by Jean Luc Treutenaere, co-President of the European and International Booksellers Federation: 2019, a year of new beginnings for EUPL: the start of a new 3-year cycle, the welcoming of several new countries within the EUPL family and, most importantly, 14 new laureates joining the EUPL palmarès. EIBF wishes to warmly congratulate these 14 European talented, emerging writers. We wish for their works to cross as many borders as possible and to inspire European readers. As representative of booksellers, we wish that their books will integrate the selection of many bookshops throughout Europe.