The Prix Europa has awarded its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award to EBU Radio Director Raina Konstantinova, for her "outstanding achievements in service of the radio medium in Europe".

Mrs Konstantinova, who has led the EBU Radio Department since 2001, picked up the honour at the Prix Europa 2011 Awards Ceremony, in Berlin, on 29 October. It was presented by former EBU President Arne Wessberg.

In recognition of Mrs Konstantinova's EBU role, the Prix Europa said she had "left a strong mark on the development of Public Service Broadcasting not only in Bulgarian National Radio but in the whole of Europe".

Mrs Konstantinova said the award was recognition of the value of European public radio and for "the fantastic public radio community, for their talent and for their steadfastness in difficult times".                             Raina Konstantinova accepts her award

She added: "I accept this award for the whole EBU and its great Radio team, and for their untiring efforts in creating not just quality standards for public media, but for implementing them with vigour and perseverance. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, both from the EBU and its Member organizations, for their support, encouragement, ideas and the inspirational programmes they create. This is an award for all of them."

Before taking on the directorship of the EBU Radio Department, Raina Konstantinova was deputy Director General (1992-1996) and Director General of Radio Bulgaria respectively (1998 and 2001). During this period Mrs Konstantinova was also a professor of radio production at the New Bulgarian University.

Prior to that, Mrs Konstantinova has worked as a reporter, journalist and then Editor-in-chief of Channel 1 of BNR (1974-1992).