Julie Belgrado

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My Social Contacts

EIBF WELCOMES THE ECOFIN UNANIMOUS DECISION ON REDUCED VAT RATES FOR E-PUBLICATIONS

The European & International Booksellers Federation – EIBF – warmly welcomes the unanimous decision of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) of 2 October, which will allow Member States who so wish to apply reduced rates of VAT to electronic publications, including e-books

EIBF co-Presidents Fabian Paagman and Jean-Luc Treutenaere commented: “EIBF has been advocating against tax discrimination on e-books for many years and the decision of lowering VAT rates on e-books is the result of the lobbying efforts of the bookselling sector at European level, represented by EIBF. Today’s decision finally resolves a long-standing issue. Whether a book is paper or digital, ordered online or bought in a shop, different tax treatment that hampers access to books should be avoided. From now on VAT rates on paper books and e-books will be aligned (if Members States so whish), a measure which will boost the e-book market and will further stimulate reading.”

The proposal agreed today by all Member States, will allow – but not oblige – Member States to align the rates of e-publications to those of printed publications. The new rules will apply temporarily, pending the introduction of a new, ‘definitive’ VAT system. The directive will be adopted without further discussion once the text has been finalised in all official languages.

EIBF WELCOMES THE CONFIRMATION OF THE NEW COMMISSION

The European & International Booksellers Federation – EIBF – warmly welcomes the outcome of yesterday’s vote at the European Parliament, confirming the von der Leyen Commission. We wish to congratulate President von der Leyen and the entire college of Commissioners for this success and wish them a fruitful and productive 5-year term.

The European & International Booksellers Federation represents national booksellers associations in the European Union and beyond. Through its member associations, EIBF speaks on behalf of more than 25,000 individual bookshops, whose role in society is essential as places of culture and in supporting learning and literacy.

EIBF co-President Jean-Luc Treutenaere commented: “We especially applaud the addition of culture to the portfolio title of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, a change which recognises its constitutive role for an EU that lives up to its motto: united in diversity.”

EIBF co-President Fabian Paagman added: “We truly hope that the Commission’s upcoming proposals will strive to promote a competitive business environment while ensuring a level playing field among all retailers online and offline. We welcome the appointment of Vice-President Margrethe Vestager whose work over the past five years has been of huge importance to booksellers and the international bookselling community”

EIBF will closely follow the work of the new Commission, as more than ever, the prosperous future of the European bookselling industry lies in the hand of decision makers. Public policies which guarantee a healthy and diverse offer to consumers, as well as a rich and varied network of bookshops, will help to build and transmit our European culture, history and knowledge to the next generation.

For further information, please contact:
EIBF Director Julie Belgrado (julie.belgrado@europeanbooksellers.eu or +32 494 67 95 07) 

EIBF APPLAUDS TRADE UNIONS FOR RALLYING LEADING ADVOCATES AT THE AMAZON SYMPOSIUM

On Monday, 2nd December 2019, the European & International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) was delighted to participate in the first-ever “Symposium on Amazon’s unchecked power”. Hosted by UNI Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the event gathered EU policy-makers, experts and regulators, union leaders, small business representatives and NGOs in Brussels.

At the full-day symposium, a series of panels laid bare the grave consequences of Amazon’s business model and practices for the economies and societies where it is active, particularly by engaging in systematic tax avoidance, compounding the climate crisis and undermining labour rights as well as privacy and digital rights.

During a panel centred around the topic of “Amazon’s monopoly power: threats to a fair marketplace”, booksellers were represented by Meryl Halls, Managing Director of the Booksellers Association of the United Kingdom and Ireland (BA) and EIBF Executive Committee member. Halls summarised the event as follows:

“It was inspiring and energising to take part in the Amazon Symposium in Brussels on 2nd December, with EIBF Director, Julie Belgrado.  We gathered with global group of those interested in the ‘unchecked power of Amazon’, from unions keen to re-establish workers’ rights, to competition specialists, from social justice campaigners to climate justice activists, and we were very proud to represent bookselling in this group.  We outlined the impact of Amazon on bookselling in the UK and across Europe and we were resolute in laying out the colossal impact Amazon has had on the bookselling sector, with its unfair competitive advantages in many tax jurisdictions, its widescale tax avoidance activities and its monopolistic and anti-competitive behaviour – at the same time as flying the flag for the incredible work booksellers across the world are doing to counter the impact of Amazon.  We need concrete global action to alleviate the impact of the monopolistic behaviour and look forward to working with partners to make this happen, in the UK and in the European Union.”

The timing of this event is critical, coinciding with the first formal day in office for the recently confirmed European Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen. EIBF will constructively engage with the EU institutions to ensure that fair competition ranks highly on the EU agenda, and lend its full support to policy responses which seek to put a check on Amazon’s monopolistic behaviour in Europe and further afield.

About EIBF: The European and International Booksellers Federation represents national booksellers associations in the European Union and beyond. EIBF Members in turn have in membership booksellers of all kinds: brick and mortar bookshops, online bookshops, independents, chains.

For further information, please contact:
EIBF Director Julie Belgrado (julie.belgrado@europeanbooksellers.eu or +32 494 67 95 07)

GEO-BLOCKING: THE MUSIC AND BOOKSELLING INDUSTRIES CALL FOR COPYRIGHT PROTECTED WORKS TO BE KEPT OUTSIDE THE REGULATION ON GEO-BLOCKING

Following MEP Thun’s report on geo-blocking, EIBF and the European Association of Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA) expose their views in a joint letter to the MEPs relevant to the dossier.

Both organisations advocate for keeping “services providing access to and use of copyright protected works or other protected subject matter” outside of the scope of the regulation on geo-blocking. They further underline the need for setting the review clause to five years after the entry into effect of the regulation, rather than the two years initially proposed, as this would allow to have more accurate data on the evolution of the e-book market.

Finally, EIBF and IMPALA proposed amendments to the Commission’s proposal in the best interest of their respective sectors’ jobs and investment.

The full text of the letter and of the amendments can be found in attachment. 

Public consultation on reduced VAT rates for electronic publications – EIBF Contribution

Between the 25th of July and the 19th of September, the European Commission conducted a consultation under the title “reduced VAT rates for electronically supplied publications”, since these publications are still taxed at a standard VAT rate compared to printed books and newspapers which can enjoy a reduced rate (but higher than 5%) or a super-reduced rate (under 5%).

The Commission is committed to create a legislative proposal that would allow Member states to apply  to electronically supplied publications the same VAT rates that Member States can currently apply to printed publications. The objective of the consultation was to invite the public, businesses and representative organisations to share their views on the proposal and its elements. Together with its members, EIBF has contributed an opinion to express the stance of booksellers on creating a fairer taxation system for electronically supplied publications.

You can download the full contribution in attachment. 

PETITION FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: #FreeWordsTurkey – THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND THE EU COMMISSION MUST TAKE A STAND ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN TURKEY

The German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e.V.), the PEN Centre Germany (PEN-Zentrum Deutschland) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporter ohne Grenzen e.V.) call on the German federal government and the EU Commission to make an uncompromising commitment to freedom of expression in Turkey / Online petition at www.change.org/freewordsturkey_en Federal Chancellery lit up with campaign message.

Frankfurt am Main / Berlin / Darmstadt, 29 August 2016 – The Turkish government is currently waging an aggressive campaign against freedom of expression. Since the attempted coup in that country six weeks ago, journalists, editors, publishers and other media and culture-industry professionals critical of the government have been subject to widespread harassment and persecution. At least 60 journalists and authors have been arrested and more than 130 media companies have been shut down, including 45 newspapers, 29 book publishers and 15 magazines. These actions have further exacerbated the already tense situation for journalists, authors and publishers in Turkey.

As a result, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Börsenverein) has joined with the PEN Centre Germany and Reporters without Borders to launch a campaign titled “Für das Wort und die Freiheit #FreeWordsTurkey”. Together these bodies are calling on the public to sign an online petition addressed to the German government and the EU Commission. The petition implores Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to take an active and uncompromising stand in favour of freedom of expression, freedom of information and freedom of the press in the context of any decisions, actions and statements they make moving forward. It calls on them to make it clear that these freedoms are in no way subject to negotiation. The three organisations additionally urge politicians and decision makers to re-evaluate their policies with regard to Turkey and other countries in which freedom of expression is being severely restricted. They also demand that swift and non-bureaucratic support be provided to persecuted journalists and authors, for example by means of emergency visas.

Alexander Skipis, Managing Director of the Börsenverein: “The Turkish government has unleashed a massive attack on freedom of expression. The German government and the EU Commission simply cannot be silent on this subject any longer. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and, as such, is non-negotiable. Politicians and governments have an obligation to confirm their uncompromising commitment to this basic right. We cannot allow freedom of expression to be undermined or instrumentalised for reasons of political expediency. We need to work together to break this silence and send out a clear signal of support for freedom of expression”.

Sascha Feuchert, Vice President and Writers-in-Prison Officer at PEN Centre Germany: “The arrests, intimidation and restrictions imposed on authors in Turkey must stop immediately. We have the right and responsibility to fight on behalf of our colleagues. The targeted measures currently underway against freedom of the press and freedom of expression mean that democracy is under threat not only in Turkey; the inaction of European political forces in the face of these events significantly jeopardises our own democratic values as well. We simply cannot stand by and accept this”.

Michael Rediske, Management Spokesman for Reporters without Borders: “It is simply not an option for us to remain silent in the face of what is happening in Turkey today. Our obligation now is to take a clear stand against the massive persecution of journalists and authors there. Turkish media professionals who are being persecuted need our solidarity and practical support”.

Joint movement of the book and media industry
Publishers, bookstores and other media-related companies are encouraged to join in actively supporting the campaign, for example by featuring images of the “Für das Wort und die Freiheit #FreeWordsTurkey” message on their websites. Bookshops can draw attention to the petition via posters in their stores motivating customers to participate in the coming days. The three organisers are also calling on partner organisations in Germany and abroad to join the campaign and circulate the petition.

Click here to go to the petition

Chancellery lit up with the campaign message
The campaign will feature a number of activities in the public sphere. For example, last Saturday evening, the Federal Chancellery in Berlin was lit up with the campaign message “Für das Wort und die Freiheit #FreeWordsTurkey”. The campaign initiators plan further activities in the coming days.

Press Materials

About the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels:
The Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association) represents the interests of the German book industry in the political and public arenas. It was founded in 1825 and its current members include roughly 5,000 booksellers, publishers, wholesalers and other media companies. It runs the Frankfurt Book Fair and awards the annual Peace Prize of the German Book Trade and the German Book Prize. It also encourages reading and defends the right to freedom of expression and the freedom to publish.

www.boersenverein.de

About the PEN Centre Germany:
The PEN Centre Germany is one of over 140 writers associations belonging to PEN International. Its three letters stand for the words poets, essayists and novelists. PEN was founded in 1921 in England as a literary circle of friends and quickly spread out to other countries across the globe, establishing itself as an advocate for freedom of expression worldwide. Today it is considered to be the voice of persecuted and suppressed writers everywhere.

www.pen-deutschland.de

About Reporters without Borders:
Reporter without Borders (ROB) researches and monitors violations against freedom of expression and freedom of the press worldwide. It alerts the public when journalists and their colleagues are in danger and/or suffering persecution. The organisation works to gain more safety and better security for journalists. It fights both online and offline against censorship, against the use and export of censorship software and against restrictive media laws. The RWB Emergency Commission also supports persecuted journalists and their families, for example, by replacing destroyed or confiscated equipment and by paying fees for lawyers and doctors. When an individual’s life in is danger in their home country, RWB helps them migrate to a secure country. The German branch of Reporters without Borders has been active since 1994 and is part of Reporters sans frontiers, a Paris-based organisation founded in 1985 with a worldwide network of correspondents.

www.reporter-ohne-grenzen.de

Media contact:

Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e.V. /German Publishers and Booksellers Association
Thomas Koch, Press Officer, Tel.: +49 (0) 69 1306-292, t.koch@boev.de
Alexander Vieß, Editor Web & Social Media, Tel.: +49 (0) 69 1306-296, viess@boev.de

PEN-Zentrum Deutschland / PEN Centre Germany
Sascha Feuchert, Vice President and Writers-in-Prison Officer, Tel. +49 (0) 641 9929093, Sascha.Feuchert@germanistik.uni-giessen.de

Reporter ohne Grenzen / Reporters without Borders
Ulrike Gruska/Christoph Dreyer, Press Officers, Tel. +49 (0)30 60 98 95 33-55,
presse@reporter-ohne-grenzen.de