EU Literature Prize: Sant asks why political party publishers are disqualified
Labour MEP and author and creator of Sensiela Kotba Soċjalisti asks Commission to clarify EU Literature Prize ban on politically-owned publishers
5 May 2021, 4:30pm
by David Lindsay
Labour MEP Alfred Sant is demanding answers from the European Commission as to why writers nominated for the European Union Prize for Literature are automatically disqualified from the accolade if they have been published by a political party publishing house.
Sant, himself a prolific author published by Labour Party-owned SKS Publishers, tabled a Parliamentary Question to the Commission pointing out that “the particular condition excluding writers published by houses owned or affiliated to a political party does not feature in the rules published on the website of the European Union Prize for Literature”.
Newsbook
Creative Europe Desk Malta
Kissirtu Kullimkien and Joe Pace, with his book
Papa Aħmed, are the two Maltese authors shortlisted for this year’s European Union Prize for Literature. Both books are published by Merlin.
Joe Pace’s
Papa Aħmed is an action-based work of fiction about the first Maltese Pope, and Lara Calleja’s
Kissirtu Kullimkien is a series of short stories revolving around the destructive impact the construction industry is having on the Maltese islands.
The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) is an annual initiative that recognises emerging fiction writers in Europe. It is financed by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, a framework aiming at strengthening Europe’s cultural and creative sectors.
Five Czech authors have been nominated for the European Union Prize for Literature awarded annually to new and emerging writers. They are Anna Bolavá, Miřenka Čechová, Lucie Faulerová, Matěj Hořava and Daniel Hradecký.
The winners will be announced on May 18 while the award ceremony will take place in Brussels in late September, Czech jury chairman Pavel Mandys told the ČTK news agency.
The award, which includes a 5,000 euros cash prize, was first given out in 2009. It aims to provide a forum for European writers little known outside of their home countries. Three Czechs have won the prize: Bianca Bellová (2017), Jan Němec (2014) and Tomáš Zmeškal (2011).
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