EIBF proudly presents its 2024-2029 Manifesto ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections

Following yesterday’s World Book Day, EIBF proudly unveils our new manifesto for the upcoming European legislative term of 2024-2029.

With the mission of representing our members’ interests and advocating for policies that benefit our sector, EIBF rallies in support of our beloved bookshops, underscoring their unique role in our democratic societies. 

On the occasion of this announcement, EIBF Co-President Jean-Luc Treutenaere expressed: “Not only are bookshops local businesses that benefit the local economy, they are also cultural hubs and meeting points for people and ideas, simultaneously upholding the fundamental right to freedom of expression and fostering empathy and tolerance through books and stories.”

In a time of growing political polarisation and increased cultural censorship, our manifesto outlines six priority topics in that will steer our work for the booksellers we represent in the years to come:

• Standing up for freedom of expression; 
• Standing up for literacy; 
• Embracing digital technologies; 
• Embracing the green economy; 
• Maintaining freedom for small businesses; 
• Maintaining bookselling as a viable and desirable career path; 

The full content of the manifesto can be found on its own dedicated page, where you can also download it in PDF format.

Lastly, you can find EIBF's press release on the announcement attached to this page.