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European Union Prize for Literature

The European Union Prize for Literature is an annual initiative launched in 2009 to recognise the best European emerging authors and celebrate the linguistic diversity and excellence of literature in countries participating in the Creative Europe programme.

Objectives of the prize

The Prize aims to:

  • showcase Europe’s diversity and richness of contemporary fiction literature
  • raise the profile of all nominees beyond national and linguistic borders, and help them reach a broader readership
  • promote the publication, translation, sales and ultimately, the reading of books within Europe
  • encourage greater interest in non-national literary works, both in Europe and beyond

How the prize is organised

The prize has a three-year cycle: each year, a third of the Creative Europe countries participate, by national literary entities nominating a book following strict criteria. After reviewing all the translated samples of the nominated books, the seven European jurors distinguish five special mentions for their literary achievements and their potential to make an impact at an international level, as well as one overall winner. 

All nominated authors are continuously promoted across Europe, aiming to reach a wider and international audience, as well as connect with readers beyond their national and linguistic borders.

The current cycle is organised by a consortium consisting of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) and the International and European Booksellers Federation (EIBF), both responsible for the practical implementation of the Prize.

Tagged in:  Creative Europe