Published on Wednesday 21 April 2021

Maltese authors Lara Calleja and Joe Pace have been nominated for the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL).

Lara Calleja is shortlisted for her book Kissirtu Kullimkien (You’ve Destroyed Everywhere) and Joe Pace is nominated for Papa Aħmed (Pope Ahmed). Both books are published by Merlin.

The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) recognises emerging fiction writers from across Europe. The award includes 41 countries which are part of the Creative Europe programme – an initiative aiming to strengthen Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. The EUPL was launched in 2009, and since then recognised 135 winning authors through 12 editions. Each year, the EUPL awards one winner per country from a third of participating countries.

This year's edition will award winners from 14 countries: Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Iceland, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Tunisia.

The winners of the EUPL 2021 edition will be announced on 18 May in a digital event.