The aim of the prize is "to put the spotlight on the creativity and diverse wealth of Europe’s contemporary literature, to promote the circulation of literature within Europe and encourage greater interest in non-national literary works." The prize will be granted in three phases, in the years 2009, 2010 and 2011, with 11 or 12 winners each time. By 2011, a winner will have been announced for each the 34 countries participating in the EU Culture Programme.

 

In order to select the 2009 winners, national juries were set up to choose a talent in the field of contemporary literature (fiction) in their country. The value of the Prize is a lump sum of 5 000 Euros for each winner. Additionally, measures will be also taken within the EU's Culture Programme to stimulate the translation of the winning authors' works. The prizes will be presented during an award ceremony in Brussels on 28 September.

 

So far, only one novel by Szécsi (Finno-Ugrian Vampire) has been translated into a foreign language (Polish). See our review on her prize-winning novel.