As 2025 comes to a close, we look back on a year marked by collaboration and meaningful progress for booksellers across Europe and beyond. Our work took us to international stages, brought important advocacy victories for the sector and marked significant transitions within our organisation. Here are some of the highlights that shaped this remarkable year.
EIBF at international events
Throughout the year, we were privileged to participate in a range of members’ and partners’ events across the globe. From meeting overseas colleagues at the American Booksellers Association (ABA)’s Winter Institute in Denver, Colorado, to discussing the book sector’s sustainability at the Rencontres internationales de l’ecologie pour le livre in Strasbourg, France and book promotion at the Torino Book Fair, to mention a few. These gatherings strengthened our ties with national associations and offered invaluable insight into the shared challenges and innovations emerging in the global bookselling landscape. Our presence abroad reaffirmed EIBF’s position on the global stage as the voice of booksellers.
Advocating for booksellers interests
On 19 March 2025, EIBF President Fabian Paagman, Director Julie Belgrado and Policy Team Tora Åsling and Lorenzo Dall'Omo had the pleasure to meet with European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sports, Glenn Micallef . We greatly appreciated the Commissioner's openness and keen interest in our sector, as well as the opportunity to exchange views on the priorities of booksellers across Europe.
RISE Conference in Riga, Latvia
We hosted another vibrant edition of the RISE Bookselling Conference. This conference has become a true highlight, which we look forward to every year. EIBF is incredibly proud that the RISE conference has grown into this milestone event, and honoured by the popularity and high attendance participants reward us with each year. The RISE conference is the first and only international event dedicated entirely to bookselling. Since 2023, we bring together over 300 booksellers, book sector professionals, and cultural actors from all over the world.
Celebrating emerging fiction writers through EUPL
As a part of the consortium behind the European Union Prize for Literature, EIBF was proud to once again ensure the initiative helps celebrating emerging fiction writers from Creative Europe countries and bringing distinctive voices to readers across borders. On 15 May, at the Prague Book Fair in Czechia, the 2025 EUPL laureate, Italian Nicoletta Verna, was announced, together with two special mentions: Sheila Armstrong, Ireland and Philippe Marczewski, Belgium.
EIBF at the Frankfurt Book Fair
At the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse, besides one-on-one meetings with members and stakeholders, EIBF had the opportunity to co-organise, along with the Fair’s Frankfurt Calling programme, the Bookselling in Times of War panel, spotlighting booksellers and they ways in which they sustain their work when polarisation, censorship, or even full-scale war threatens them and the communities they serve.
Publication of the EIBF AI Charter
A major milestone of 2025 was the release of the EIBF Charter on Artificial Intelligence, establishing guiding principles for EIBF’s approach to the responsible use of AI in the book sector. The Charter aims to help navigate technological change in a way that protects the principle of copyright while staying open to innovations.
EUDR – A historic victory for the book sector
Throughout 2025, EIBF has diligently advocated for the interests of booksellers as policymakers shape the EU’s political agenda. One of the year’s defining achievements was the agreement between the Council and the European Parliament, that books should be excluded from the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This agreement recognises the unique nature and democratic value of books, as well as the sector’s commitment to sustainability. It was the result of extensive advocacy efforts, from EIBF and its membership, and a testament to all the booksellers who mobilised and made the voice of booksellers heard by European decisionmakers.
End of an Era – Julie Belgrado’s departure
In 2025, we also said goodbye to our long-serving Director, Julie Belgrado, whose 11 years of leadership and dedication shaped EIBF into the organisation it is today. Her vision and commitment leave a lasting legacy.
Looking ahead: Verona, new leadership, and renewed engagement
As we prepare for 2026, we look forward to welcoming a new Director to the EIBF team and to gathering once again for the next RISE Conference—this time in the beautiful city of Verona, Italy on 19-20 April. We also eagerly anticipate reconnecting with our members and partners at international trade events throughout the year. 2025 reminded us that our strength lies in community and collaboration, and the shared belief that bookshops and books are pillars for culture, society and democracy.