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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)
E-book sales: Booksellers’ Perspective
In a series of infographics, we will try to shed some light on the more technical elements of bookselling. This chart illustrates the e-book sales process from a bookseller’s perspective: Profit margins and uncertainty, market dynamics, the necessity of innovative solutions and adaptability, and relationships with other stakeholders in the eco-system of the book chain.
Infographics: e-Book Sales Profit Margins
In a series of infographics, we will try to shed some light on the more technical elements of bookselling. This chart illustrates the average profit for e-book sales when all expenses have been paid.
Infographics: The e-Book Sales Process
In a series of infographics, we will try to shed some light on the more technical elements of bookselling. This chart illustrates the e-book sales chains, the relationships between various stakeholders in the process, VAT requirements, and other considerations to take into account when selling e-books domestically and across borders.
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.