Stockholm (AINA) -- Freelance journalist Nuri Kino and Kajsa Norell, from Swedish Radio, are the Swedish winners of the prestigious European Parliament's Journalist Prize 2010, for their reports on corruption in the EU assistance program to Turkey. The European Parliament's Journalist Prize is awarded at a ceremony in Brussels in October. Kino and Norell were among 371 nominated for the Swedish prize and will be one of 27 finalists to compete for first prize in Brussels next October.

The reports by Kino and Norell were published by AINA (1-11-2010, 1-14-2010).

According to Kino and Norell, EU grants of 75 billion Swedish kronors (approximately one billion US dollars) never reach those who need it the most. More than often the grant and assistance end up in the hands of corrupt politicians, well-established businessmen and fictitious organizations who claim fabricated projects. The assistance go to unjustified consulting fees which in fact is corruption, instead of reaching those who need it most, meaning the Turkish peasants.

Kino and Norell showed, by solid investigative journalism, both in the Turkish countryside and in Ankara, a picture of structural corruption. The Turkish government party's local supporters benefited while political opposition members and minorities were shut-out. The reports showed how the government party AKP used EU grants to strengthen its own power.

Nuri Kino has been nominated six times for the Swedish Pulitzer, Guldspaden, and has won three times (AINA 2-26-2010). He is a two time winner of the Prize for Best Public Service Journalist and has twice been appointed role model of the year in Sweden. He also won a Golden Palm from the Beverly Hills Film Festival.