The three winners of the EU Awards for Investigative Journalism were unveiled at a ceremony held in the Kosovo capital, Pristina, on 15 July. The awards recognise the best investigative stories published in 2020 in Kosovo. The prize-winning journalists had exposed important stories including illegal gambling, violation of anti-monopoly rules and fraud with college accreditations and degrees. The awards were presented by the EU Special Representative to Kosovo, Ambassador Tomáš Szuyog, who stressed that a free media and independent journalism is essential for any democratic society.

Jeta Xharra and Visar Prebreza came in first place for the best investigative story, “Unclean energy: A Kosovar who owned the sun”, about a Kosovan businessman who stands behind six companies registered in Malta, reaping millions of euros from the sale of solar energy – in violation of anti-monopoly rules. Second place went to Besa Kalaja and Besnik Boletini whose article “Victims of private colleges” addressed the manipulation practised for years by private colleges in Kosovo. A story by Kreshnik Gashi and Adelina Ahmeti about illegal gambling in the village of Karaçeva took third prize.

The EU Awards for Investigative Journalism are part of an ongoing EU-funded project Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey. The aim of the project is to empower and support independent journalism and investigative journalists.