Swedish MEP Dick Erixon (ECR) has challenged the European Commission over the cost of the 2026 European Union Prize for Literature, arguing that taxpayer money should not fund literary awards while households face rising living costs.
In a written parliamentary question dated 3 June 2026, Erixon asks the Commission to disclose the total budgetary impact of the 2026 prize and provide a full list of all other prizes awarded by the institution, including their total costs covering awards, ceremonies, juries, promotion, and logistics. The prize, part of the Creative Europe programme, awards the Grand Prix winner €10,000 plus translation support, with smaller sums for special mentions and other shortlisted authors.
Erixon's question reflects a broader scepticism among some MEPs about EU cultural spending, pitting cultural promotion against fiscal restraint. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it views such prizes as a legitimate cultural investment or a target for budget scrutiny.
EU taxpayers may see reduced cultural spending if the Commission adjusts prize budgets; EU publishers and authors benefit from the prize's translation support and promotion; the European Commission faces pressure to justify cultural expenditure; and national cultural ministries may be drawn into debates on EU-level arts funding.