From 5–7 May 2026, EIBF joined forces with paediatricians, neuroscientists, librarians, publishers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in reading promotion in Warsaw to address Europe’s pressing literacy and reading crisis. Over three intensive days, we contributed to two pivotal events: the Literacy for Democracy Conference and the EU Literacy Coalition Co-Creation Workshop, both underscoring the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to foster a reading culture across the continent.
At the Literacy for Democracy Conference, hosted by the Universal Reading Foundation at the Palace of Commonwealth, experts like Dr. Dana Suskind and Dr. Stefania Manetti underscored reading as a biological necessity for brain development, while initiatives like Poland’s Book on Prescription and Sweden’s school library reforms demonstrated the power of systemic change. The message was clear: literacy is the bedrock of democracy, economic resilience, and mental well-being in the AI era.
The next two days at the EU Literacy Coalition Workshop, focused on co-creating the EU Literacy Coalition Memorandum. We tackled urgent questions: How can we improve literacy competences for learners and educators? How do we ensure AI complements—not replaces—human-centred reading? With one in four EU 15-year-olds struggling with basic texts (PISA 2022), the stakes couldn’t be higher. Partners like the Federation of European Publishers, EBLIDA and EURead, and many more shared scalable solutions.
For booksellers, the takeaway is clear: our role goes beyond selling books. We are custodians of literacy ecosystems, uniquely positioned to partner with paediatricians, librarians, and policymakers to embed reading into the fabric of society. Thank you to the Universal Reading Foundation for the inspiring conference and to the Directorate-General of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) at the European Commission for convening this critical dialogue. The Memorandum’s launch in Brussels this September will mark the next step and we are keen to continue this critical work together with leading voices from the field.