EU Investigative Journalism Awards 2024: Meet the Winners

The EU Investigative Journalism Award 2024 has officially concluded, honoring the most impactful investigative work from the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

The winning stories this year highlight the critical role of investigative journalism in promoting freedom of expression and the rule of law, while supporting transparency and accountability. These awarded stories demonstrate the power of journalism to tackle key challenges, inspire change, and contribute to a more informed public.

We are excited to share the impactful stories that stood out this year:

ALBANIA

1^st Prize: Anesti Barjamemaj, Vladimir Karaj, Reporter.al, The Voice of America

“Krim mjedisor: Landfilli i Sharrës ‘i nxjerr ujin e zi’ lumit të Erzenit” (“Environmental crime: The Sharra landfill “extracts black water”’ from the Erzen river”)

2^nd Prize: Ola Xama, Reporter.al

“Projekti i inceneratorit të Tiranës u propozua nga Erion Veliaj, thotë SPAK” (“The Tirana incinerator project was proposed by Erion Veliaj, says SPAK”)

3^rd Prize: Geri Emiri, Aida Ciro, Aleksandar Dimitrievski, Amfora.al

“Klubi Ekskluziv IPARD”: Kush po i “korr” fondet në Shqipëri dhe në Maqedoninë e Veriut?! (The “Exclusive IPARD Club”: Who “farms” the EU funds in Albania and North Macedonia?!)

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

1^st Prize: Nino Bilajac, Selma Učanbarlić, Detektor.ba

“Unutar milionske prevare eMagnetixa i kako je “posao iz snova” postao noćna mora” (“Inside eMagnetix’s million-dollar scam and how the “dream job” turned into a nightmare”)

1^St Prize: Arduana Pribinja, Al Jazeera Balkans

“Optužbe pacijentica za seksualno uznemiravanje u bolnici u Zenici” (“Accusations of female patients for sexual harassment in the hospital in Zenica”)

2^nd Prize: Dejan Rakita, mislioprirodi.ba

“TRGOVSKA GORA: Zašto i kako je izabrana, šta se tamo tačno gradi i kakve opasnosti nam donosi” (“TRGOVSKA GORA: Why and how it was chosen, what exactly is being built there and what dangers it brings us”)

3^rd Prize: Azhar Kalamujić, Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo

“Nazovi Bega radi parking” (“Call Bey for parking”)

3^rd Prize: Azra Omerović, Zinaida Đelilović, Žurnal,

“Internacionalni univerzitet u Goraždu: Dobila diplomu doktora stomatologije iako fakultet nije imao upisanih studenata” (“International University in Goražde: Received a doctor of dentistry degree even though the faculty had no enrolled students”)

KOSOVO

1^st Prize: Behar Mustafa, Kreshnik Gashi, Kallxo.com

“Dosja e Korrupsionit” (“Corruption file”)

2^nd Prize: Alberta Hashani, Betimi për Drejtësi/KTV

“Prokurori Biraj dyshohet se mori ryshfet për të dështuar akuzën për 130 kg drogë” (“Prosecutor Biraj allegedly took bribes to fail the charge for 130 kg of drugs”)

3^rd Prize: Dafina Halili, Kosovo 2.0

“Ngacmimi seksual kalon pa u ndëshkuar në Universitetin e Prishtinës” (“Sexual harassment goes unpunished at the University of Prishtina”)

3^rd Prize: Dardan Hoti, Aulonë Kadriu, Kosovo 2.0,

“Nëse dalin videot, unë kam m’i hupë krejt” (“If the videos are posted, I will lose everything”)

MONTENEGRO

1^St Prize: Tatjana Ašanin, Nikola Milosavić Aleksić, Televizija Vijesti

“U mutnim vodama” (Podgorički vodovod i kanalizacija) (“In murky waters” (Podgorica water supply and sewage system))

1^st Prize: Svetlana Đokić, Milica Babić, TV E

“Masakr odgovornosti” (“Massacre of responsibilities”)

2^nd Prize: Đurđa Radulović, Balkan Insight

“Niko ne provjerava“: Kupovina zabranjenih pesticida u Crnoj Gori” (“No one checks”: Purchase of prohibited pesticides in Montenegro”)

3^rd Prize: Andrea Perišić, Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo Crne Gore

“KRIJUMČARENJE CRNOGORSKOG ARHEOLOŠKOG BLAGA: Raznose, prodaju i uništavaju baštinu bez kazne” (“SMUGGLING OF MONTENEGRO ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURES: They blow up, sell and destroy heritage without punishment”)

NORTH MACEDONIA

1^st Prize: Irena Mulachka, Fokus

“Скандал Oнкологија” (“Scandal Oncology”)

2^nd Prize: Miomir Serafinovikj, Snezhana Lupevska Sozen, TV Telma, KOD

“КОД: Семејно стебло Зајас, Соравиа, струја, дипломатија” (“KOD: Zajas family tree, Soravia, electricity, diplomacy”)

3^rd Prize: Aleksandar Metodijev, Suzana Miceva, Nota.mk

“Кревките шуми” (“The fragile forests”)

SERBIA

1^st Prize: Ivana Milosavljević, Teodora Ćurčić, Vladimir Kostić. CINS

“CINS u kol centru SNS-a: Agencija za hostese, kupovina glasova i milioni u kešu” (“CINS in the SNS call center: Agency for hostesses, buying votes and the millions in cash”)

2^nd Prize: Gordana Andrić, Aleksandar Đorđević, BIRN

“Lažirane isplate, fiktivna predavanja: Kako su milioni evra za ugrožene završili u tuđim džepovima” (“Fake payments, fake lectures: How millions of euros for the vulnerable ended up in someone else’s pockets”)

3^rd Prize: Radmilo Marković, BIRN

“Beograd – raj za divlju gradnju i sumnjiva ozakonjenja: BIRN našao skoro pola miliona spornih kvadrata” (“Belgrade – a paradise for wild and suspicious construction legislation: BIRN found almost half a million square meters of suspicious square meters”)

3^rd Prize: Anđela Milivojević, BIRN

„Bila sam nemoćna“: Ispovesti žena i devojaka širom Srbije o užasnim posledicama osvetničke pornografije (“I was powerless”: Confessions of women and girls throughout Serbia about the terrible consequences of revenge pornography)

TÜRKIYE

1^st Prize: Asuman Aranca Kol, T24

“Sinan Ateş Cinayeti Dosyasındaki Bilirkişi Raporuna T24 Ulaştı: Ateş’in adresini Ülkü Ocakları Başkanı istemiş” (“T24 Accessed the Expert Report in the Sinan Ateş Murder Case: Ateş’s address was requested by the President of the Grey Wolves”)

2^nd Prize: Murat Ağırel, Cumhuriyet

“Kızılay, deprem telaşında AHBAP’a çadır sattı” (“The Turkish Red Crescent sold tents to AHBAP during earthquake panic”)

3^rd Prize: Hale Gönültaş, Thalys Augusto de Alcantara Anjos, Artigercek.com, Metrepoles.com

“Süleymancılar Brezilya’daki Amazon Ormanlarından Türkiye’ye Çocuk Getirdi” (“Süleymancılar brought children from Brazil’s Amazon Forests to Türkiye”)

Special recognition was awarded to Tunca Öğreten and Murat Baykara for their impactful, ethical coverage of Türkiye’s drug crisis, shedding light on a hidden yet critical public issue.