The European Book Prize was established in 2007. It seeks to promote European values, and to contribute to European citizens' better understanding of the European Union as a cultural entity. In 2021, the European Book Prize, chaired by Adam PRICE, honored Greek author Christos Chomenidis for his autobiographical work “Niki”.

ceremony

European Book Prize (T)

PAPADIMOULIS, Dimitrios (The Left, EL)

president's agenda

Award ceremony and statement by Christos CHOMENIDIS, Laureate of the European Book Prize 2021 for "Niki"

Title: Award ceremony and statement by Christos Chomenidis, Laureate of the European Book Prize 2021 for &quot;Niki&quot;

Atmosphere shots of Christos CHOMENIDIS winner of the European Book Prize, Adam PRICE, Chair of the jury, Roberta METSOLA and Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS Vice-Presidents of the EP, and guests arriving in the room (10 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (The Left, EL), Vice-President of the EP, I strongly believe that culture can and will be a fundamental element of Europe's recovery. Litterature has always had the capacity to force links beyond nations borders and culture. While the current crisis has polarised our societies and created great inequalities, we need literature, culture and the arts more than ever, to strengthen our common sense of European belongings.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adam PRICE, Chair of the jury, - We are here today to celebrate just that, a great European piece of storytelling, "Niki" by Christos CHOMENIDIS. A beautiful story, about modern Greece, a young woman growing up in the wake of huge hustorical events that still affect us all. She sees most of the conflicts and wars that have shaped and scarred us. She, in the way, is the 20th century. She is Greece.

Chritos CHOMENIDIS stands up, delivers his thanks speech, receives the European Book Prize while guests applause. (10 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos CHOMENIDIS, 2021 winner of the European Book Prize, - My first feeling for the very first moment that I was informed about the good news, was that, not me but the book Niki, opens a small door. And through this small door, a new nowadays Greece artistic, literary, poetic and can interest the whole group and the whole world. I take this prize as a chance for my generation and the youngest generations of the Greek artists. It's not mine. It's for the all of us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos CHOMENIDIS, 2021 winner of the European Book Prize, - I have written 13 novels and in this novel, I'm trying to create a new universe, a new world. It's the only one that I try to say the story of my mother to my daughter. You know, I was 46. My daughter was 2 years old, and because my late father died when he was 48, I was afraid, I was in panic that I would die at the same age. So I needed to leave as an arch the stories of the family. I started writing a letter to little Niki, so she can find it after my death. Of course, I didn't die. When I was in page 10 of this letter, I understood that it's not a letter. It's a novel.