Following the adoption of the new Hong Kong Security Law on 19 March 2024, the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) are concerned at the limits this law will create on the freedom to publish in Hong Kong.

The new law has been denounced by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), the Hong Kong Centre for Human Rights, and the Hong Kong Democratic Council (HKDC). At issue are the bill’s sweeping provisions and broad definitions. Reports in The Guardian suggest that the impact of the new law on publishers and booksellers has been immediate.

Kristenn Einarsson, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee: The last ten years have seen publishing and bookselling in Hong Kong decimated. From intimidation to restrictive security laws we must recognise the tools of censorship and resist them.

EIBF Co-President, Jean Luc Treutenaere: The steady deterioration of the freedom of expression in Hong Kong is alarming and disheartening. The book publishing and bookselling communities are under threat by repressive security laws, which are resulting in vibrant and beloved bookshops shutting down. Any closure, and particularly in current times, is a massive loss to the book world.

In 2022, EIBF highlighted the case of Lam Wing-Kee, a Hong Kong bookseller who was the subject of censorship from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Mr Lam’s bookshop Causeway Bay Books had been running in Hong Kong for decades, selling books that were deemed unlawful in mainland China, and defying the oppression of the government. In 2015, Mr Lam was one of five booksellers and publishers who disappeared from various locations in Hong-Kong, Thailand and mainland China. Fearing extradition to China, in 2019, Mr Lam escaped to Taiwan, where he has recreated his bookshop. This space has become a gathering place for advocates of freedom of expression, democracy and human rights.

IPA has previously expressed concern about the situation for publishers in Hong Kong. In September 2022, 5 authors and publishers were sentenced to 19 months in prison for ‘conspiracy to print, publish, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications’. In 2018 IPA awarded the Prix Voltaire to Swedish Hong Kong publisher by Gui Minhai who co-owned Mighty Current and was one of the Causeway Books booksellers. Gui is currently in jail in China. The IPA continues to call for his release.

After a dazzling debut conference last year in Prague, the EIBF led and organised RISE Bookselling Conference came back bigger and better this year, hosted at the iconic and picturesque Centro Cultural de Belém complex in Lisbon, Portugal. The conference proved once more to be a one-of-its-kind space in which to grow and foster a global and resilient bookselling community. 

This year, on the 17-18 of March, the conference embodied more than ever the fervent passion, resilience and proud spirit of the bookselling sector, gathering over 300 booksellers and key stakeholders in the sector (authors, publishers, distributors, etc.) from every corner of the world. The conference served as a forum for them to meet, network, debate, and discuss current topics of relevance to the bookselling sector.

Delegates from 28 countries enjoyed a rich and packed programme of panels covering a wide range of priority topics for the book trade such as sustainability, accessibility, AI innovation, diversity and inclusion, book censorship and many more. 

The increase in participation from the year prior highlighted how unique and crucial the RISE Bookselling Conference is in creating an organic sense of belonging to an international book community that shares the same values and ideals, as well as facilitating dialogue and understanding among booksellers. 

On our dedicated Conference page, you can watch highlights from this year’s sophomore conference, browse through our photo gallery, read a recap of the conference and download some of the presentations and other workshop materials. 

The third edition of the RISE Bookselling Conference will take place in Riga, Latvia on 23-24 March 2025.

‘Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability for the Enhancement of Bookselling’, or RISE Bookselling in short, is a three-year, EU co-funded programme run by EIBF. Since its launch in early 2022, RISE Bookselling has been working to create a real network of international and European booksellers, bringing them closer together while upscaling their resilience by providing them with key tools and insights they can put into practice in their shop.

Under the RISE Bookselling project, and among other multiple activities, EIBF has organised the RISE Bookselling Conference, the first-ever European and international conference to put booksellers at center-stage, giving them an opportunity to have a dedicated space in which to discuss their craft with like-minded peers.

Today, the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee adopted its position on the proposal for a Late Payment Regulation.

The IMCO Committee’s vote comes after the European Commission presented, last September, a proposal for a Regulation to combat late payment in commercial transactions. The Regulation seeks to replace the current Directive by, among other changes, imposing a payment cap of 30 days between most Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions.

While inspired by valid objectives, EIBF has firmly opposed the European Commission’s proposal to introduce a strict and inflexible payment cap for all businesses. The proposed one-size-fits-all approach targets a problem simply not present in the book value chain, which would instead generate huge and unjustified disruption to the entire European bookselling and publishing sectors.

The report adopted today by the IMCO Committee improves the Commission’s proposal, as it allows for businesses working with slow-moving and seasonal goods to benefit from an extended payment term of up to 120 days. While we are thankful for the efforts made to grant further payment flexibility to sectors such as ours, the European bookselling sector still insists that any restrictive payment caps would create significant problems and threaten the core functioning of the entire European book value chain. We are, therefore, still firmly against the imposition of fixed payment caps and reiterate the need to reintroduce the notion of contractual freedom if expressly agreed by the relevant parties.

We are also concerned by the report’s proposed definition of ‘slow-moving goods’, which is simply too ambiguous, hard to measure in practice and could potentially exclude a significant part of non-book products sold in bookshops, leading to serious administrative burden and additional red tape for SME bookshops.

Following the vote, EIBF Co-President Fabian Paagman says “We are disappointed by the IMCO Committee’s failure to recognise contractual freedom in today’s vote on the Late Payment Regulation. While we expect to fall under the category of businesses working with ‘slow-moving goods’, we are concerned by how they are defined in the report. It is imperative that businesses can agree on their own payment terms if they mutually agree to do so, as they already do in the book sector”.

Ahead of the expected plenary vote in April, we urge Members of the European Parliament to reintroduce the crucial notion of contractual freedom into the final text and to improve the definition of slow-moving goods. This is essential for the viability of the European book sector. The future of thousands of bookshops depends on it.

For further information, please contact:

EIBF Policy Advisor, Daniel Maritn Brennan (daniel.martinbrennan@europeanbooksellers.eu)

In recognition of the increasing efforts to restrict books, those who write them, publish them or make them available to readers, five organisations representing authors, publishers, booksellers and libraries worldwide have issued a joint international statement, calling for the freedom of expression, and the freedoms to publish and read to be respected.

The international organisations launching this statement are:

• International Authors Forum (IAF)
• PEN International
• International Publishers Association (IPA)
• European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF)
• International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

The statement, launched under the framework of the London Book Fair, underlines the essential and interconnected nature of the freedom of expression and the freedoms to read, and publish, and urges governments and citizens to ensure these freedoms are respected in law and in practice.

EIBF Co-President, Jean-Luc Treutenaere, said “We’re proud to be co-signing this important and timely statement on behalf of the international bookselling sector, and standing alongside authors, publishers and libraries. At a time when censorship is on the rise, the book sector must stand firm and united in its mission to provide access to all kinds of books for the ultimate benefit of readers”.

Individual authors, publishers, booksellers and librarians are encouraged to sign the statement, which will be presented at a number of international book sector events throughout the year.

You can find the full statement attached.

The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) recognises emerging fiction writers from the European Union and beyond. Engaging the 41 countries participating in the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, the Prize celebrates 41 outstanding new literary talents across a cycle of three years. The EUPL is organised by a Consortium of associations, comprising the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) and the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Spotlighting the creativity and the immense and diverse wealth of Europe’s contemporary literature in the field of fiction, EUPL aims to promote the circulation of literature within Europe and encourages greater interest in non-national literary works. 

The EUPL Consortium is proud to reveal today the list of 13 nominees for the EUPL 2024 edition, one for each participating country. The authors and their novels were nominated by national entities knowledgeable about the literary scene in their countries and used to promoting their own literature abroad. It is with pleasure that the nominees for this year are unveiled:

• Albania: Rita Petro, Lindur së prapthi, Publisher: Onufri
• Bulgaria: Todor Todorov, Хагабула, Publisher: Janet 45
• Denmark: Theis Ørntoft, Jordisk, Publisher: Gyldendal
• Germany: Deniz Utlu, Vaters Meer, Publisher: Suhrkamp
• Hungary: Puskás Panni, Megmenteni bárkit, Publisher: Magvető
• Iceland: María Elísabet Bragadóttir, Sápufuglinn, Publisher: Una útgáfuhús
• Latvia: Daina Tabūna, Raganas, Publisher: Ascendum
  Malta: Aleks Farrugia, Ir-Re Borg, Publisher : SKS
• Netherlands: Sholeh Rezazadeh, Ik ken een berg die op me wacht, Publisher: Ambo|Anthos
• Portugal: Gabriela Ruivo, Lei da gravidade, Publisher: Porto Editora
• Serbia: Bojan Krivokapić, Vila Fazanka, Publisher: Areté
• Slovenia: Tina Vrščaj, Na klancu, Publisher: Cankarjeva založba
• Tunisia: Arbia Braham, Jebel El Milh, Publisher: Editions Arabesques

Watch the announcement video here.

The seven members of the European jury will now read excerpts from all the nominated books and make their choice in the upcoming month to award one EUPL Prize winner for this edition, together with recognising five special mentions.

The 2024 EUPL Prize winner and the five special mentions will be revealed on 4 April 2024 at 17:00, during the announcement ceremony at the Brussels Book Fair’s Place de l’Europe.

All nominated authors will be continuously promoted on the European stage, aiming to reach a wider and international audience, as well as connect with readers beyond their national and linguistic borders.

Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: "The nominees for the European Union Prize for Literature, 13 voices from 13 countries, represent the richness of literary expression across Europe. I congratulate all nominees, wish them all success in the final round and look forward to congratulating the winners on 4 April. One thing is certain though: European literature and its remarkable diversity have already won. We will celebrate it soon with the Day of European Authors on 25 March.”

Ricardo Franco Levi, President of FEP, said: “One of Europe’s wealth is the abundance of languages read all over the region. Thanks to the EUPL, professionals all over the world have the chance to discover new literary talents. On behalf of the Federation of European Publishers, I wish to all the nominee authors to find audiences across their borders, through the talents of translators and publishers who are believing in sharing stories with fellow Europeans.”

Jean-Luc Treutenaere, Co-President of EIBF, said: “Once again, the EUPL has achieved what it does best: conveying the richness and diversity of European literature, outlining every year some of the most promising fiction authors in the participating countries. In 2024, EUPL has spotlighted 13 authors, out of which a European jury will select five special mentions and one overall winner.  What truly matters, however, is the lasting contribution that each of these novels make to the nurture of European literature. On behalf of the European and International Booksellers Federation, I want to congratulate all the authors, and I cannot wait to see their works grace the shelves of bookshops across Europe.”

During EIBF‘s latest international call, held on 15 May 2023, representatives from member associations gathered to discuss updates, challenges, and initiatives in bookselling across various countries. Read more to learn about the key takeaways from the call.

Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, COO of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), reported encouraging growth in the number of brick-and-mortar bookstores across the USA since the pandemic, with 446 new stores opened and another 170 stores in the pipeline. However, she highlighted challenges, including a softening of sales in recent months and increasing concerns about banned books. ABA is currently exploring opportunities to support B2B business, particularly with schools.

Laura McCormack from the Booksellers Association of the UK and Ireland (BA) mentioned the need for support in Ireland due to instances of bookshops being targeted for promoting LGBT literature. The BA is currently working on creating a support kit for its Irish members. Jessica Sänger from the German Booksellers and Publishers Association discussed the importance of collaboration in addressing similar challenges faced by the international publishing and bookselling community.

Members from various countries expressed concerns about the rise of censorship and attacks on bookshops. Jean Luc Treutenaere, EIBF co-President, shared an incident in France where a bookshop's entrance was covered during a demonstration. Laura de Heredia from SLF, the French Independent Booksellers Association, highlighted activists trying to disrupt an event in a bookshop. Fabian Paagman, EIBF co-President and owner of Paagman bookshops, raised concerns about children's books being exploited for political agendas.

In more general updates, Laura McCormack shared positive feedback from UK and Irish booksellers, with overall stability in the market despite challenges such as increasing prices and supply chain issues. Maria Hamrefors from the Swedish Booksellers Association discussed worries about rising salaries and energy costs in Sweden. Graça Santos from the Portuguese Independent Bookshops network expressed concerns about slow sales, rising costs, and declining membership.

Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, representing the American Booksellers Association (ABA), mentioned a shift in how stores open in the United States. There has been a rise in mobile stores, pop-up shops, and online-only retailers. It is possible that some of these businesses may later transition to brick-and-mortar establishments, highlighting the dynamic nature of the retail landscape.

Graça Santos added to the discussion, stating that Portuguese bookshops have also adapted by moving predominantly online, including through pop-up ventures. This shift demonstrates the industry's resilience and ability to embrace alternative models to reach customers.

Shifting the focus to the Dutch book market, Fabian Paagman mentioned a significant increase in the demand for English-language books in recent years. While this trend has created opportunities for booksellers, it poses a challenge for publishers, some of whom have had to lay off a considerable number of employees to adapt to market shifts. Despite this, the Dutch booksellers association remains strong, although two key staff members will be stepping down in the upcoming months.

Raluca Selejan, a bookseller and owner of La Două Bufniţe bookshop in Romania, shared concerns about declining sales in her country. Sales have dropped to the level of 2009, causing worry among publishers. Raluca mentioned that the Romanian Ministry of Culture has proposed a fixed price law, which is still under analysis and awaits voting. It remains to be seen whether this law will be implemented, as the publishers association does not agree with it.

The international calls provide a platform for EIBF members to exchange updates, share concerns, and identify areas where collective efforts can drive positive change in the bookselling community. During the latest call, participants emphasized the importance of collaboration and sharing experiences to address common challenges faced by booksellers worldwide. EIBF is determined to focus on issues related to banned books, censorship, and supporting the industry during turbulent times.