Maria Iglesias delivered this presentation at the ThinkPub training event in Brussels on 10 April 2026. She presents findings from an independent European Commission study examining the online discoverability of European cultural content.
The research considers how editorial decisions and recommendation algorithms influence exposure to books and music. Book discovery remains closely connected to physical retail: approximately 70% of sales continue to occur in bookshops, where personal recommendations remain important. Audiences also maintain a strong attachment to local cultural content.
On global platforms, however, European works may represent only a small share of discoverable book content. Although the sector possesses effective metadata standards, smaller publishers do not always apply them consistently. The rapid growth of AI-generated material creates additional visibility pressure for authentic works by human authors.
The study recommends action across six areas: governance, capacity building, data, audiences, research and innovation, and prominence and transparency. Iglesias identifies ebooks, audiobooks and libraries as important instruments for cross-border circulation and invites cultural stakeholders to contribute to the European Commission’s developing AI strategy.
Original French title: Découvrabilité des livres et diversité culturelle européenne : nouvelles conclusions d’une étude de l’Union européenne
