11 years old classical guitar player Ledion Halitaj is this year’s winner of the European of the Year Award. The EU Ambassador in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, made this announcement last night during the Europe Day reception in Pristina, noting that Ledion is “a true role model and a beacon of hope.”This is the eighth year in a row that the EU issues the Award in Kosovo to a person that has, over the last twelve months, contributed the most to the promotion of European values.

While the EU Family in Kosovo proposed the nominees, it is the people of Kosovo who chose the winner, by voting on the EU in Kosovo’s social media channels. The five nominees dedicated their lives and work to empowering women in business, community affairs, and sports, promoting multiculturalism, and the active engagement of young people in Kosovo’s cultural life.

“It gives me great pleasure to be giving 2023 European of the Year Award to the young Ledion Halitaj. The fact that most Kosovans voted for him in a competition with Ms Đorić, Ms Jashari, Mr Kuka, and Mr Syla, proves that the society looks forward to its young generation to take the country forward, and the EU will be here to support them in advancing Kosovo on its EU integration path,” said Ambassador Szunyog. “I also want to acknowledge this and previous years’ winners and nominees for the Award for their contribution to making Kosovo a better place to live in,” he added.

The text of Ledion Halitaj’s online nomination read: Ledion (11) is a talented and well-known classical guitarist. Within two years, he won 15 awards at international festivals in Kosovo and across Europe, as well as four public awards. He won his first prize at the International Guitar Festival in Transylvania, Romania, when he was only nine. Ledion has also done a master class with world-class guitarists and is an example for all other young and aspiring musicians.