Europeans Making a Difference - 2019

After many years in Italy, Altin Prenga returned to Albania to establish his agrotourism restaurant "Mrizi i zanave". At the heart of his concept is the respect for Albanian traditions and the love of nature. Working with 400 local producers and promoting the Slow Food movement, Prenga commits to using local produce and protecting culinary heritage. "Wherever you are, you can be proud of coming from a small place, of your dialect and your culinary traditions, while promoting the values of small cultures. At the end of the day this is what Europe is - a union of wonderful cultures."

New York, Paris, Pristina. These are some of the stations in the professional life of Kosovar fashion designer Krenare Rugova. After her studies at the Parsons School of Design in New York and Paris, Rugova decided to return to Kosovo, where she started her eponymous fashion label. Rugova's environmentally friendly pieces have roots in her local community. She resorts to ancient techniques and traditions to create avant-garde products. "My urge to produce, to show, to create and present the best of me and the best of me as a citizen of Pristina, that’s what brings me inspiration", she says.

He is the first player ever to score at least 50 goals in three of Europe's major leagues. Captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, a striker for Roma, and UNICEF Ambassador Edin Džeko started his career in post-war Sarajevo. He says he was enriched by the experience of playing across Europe, from the Czech Republic to Germany, England and Italy. On the prospect of Bosnia and Herzegovina joining the EU, he points to the benefits it would bring to his fellow athletes, “it would be much easier to make a huge step forward for their future in the strongest leagues in the world, in Europe.”

His Academy-award nominated film ‘Before the Rain’ won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1994, and received 30 other prestigious awards. The New York Times included it on its "1,000 Best Films Ever Made" list. Acclaimed filmmaker and artist from Skopje, Milcho Manchevski had his work screened at more than 300 festivals worldwide. With a team from all over Europe, he is finalising his 6th feature film ‘The Willow’. “It’s about two and half love stories. One takes place in the 17th century, the other one today, and it’s about people in there – their struggle and their joys”.

Hristina Popović is one of Serbia's most popular actresses. She rose to fame for her role in movies such as 'Parada' ('The Parade') – critically acclaimed in Serbia and across Europe - and for her roles in theatre plays such as Waiting for Godot. Hristina grew up on stage and started acting at the age of seven. She says that "the EU was established on the principles of peace, freedom, equality, solidarity and education opportunities for young people". This is what she wants for her daughter and also why she would like Serbia to join the EU one day.

Miloš Karadaglić discovered the sound of guitar in his native Montenegro when he was eight years old. Ever since, he wanted to become a classical guitarist. He joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London as a teenager and then went on to become one of the world's most renowned guitar players. His albums are now topping the world classical music charts. Miloš says he is extremely proud of his Montenegrin origins and Mediterranean influences. He is equally enthusiastic when he speaks of what it means for him to belong to the European family.