During Readmagine 25, a conversation took place between three leading figures in the book industry, both from industry associations and the public sector. Luis González, Director General of the FGSR, coordinated this conversation based on his experience working in both the public and private sectors. The participants were Sonia Draga (President of the FEP), María José Gálvez (Director General of Books, Reading, and Libraries), and Giovanni Hoepli (Vice President of the IPA).
This video features an interesting conversation about the modalities, objectives, and common challenges for an effective relationship between associations and the government. This text summarizes the concepts around which the debate took place.
Sonia Draga is the president of the European Publishers (FEP) and addressed a comprehensive overview of the challenges and engagements faced by the publishing industry in navigating European legislative landscapes. The president highlighted the complexity of their interactions with various EU bodies, emphasizing the multitude of doors publishers must knock on, both nationally and at the European level.
Her key points from the presentation included:
Regulatory challenges
Sonia Draga highlighted the diversity within the EU, comprising 27 countries with different legal systems, languages, and publishing markets. This diversity necessitates engaging with numerous stakeholders across the European Parliament, Council, and national authorities to advocate for the interests of publishers.
Recent legislation
Significant legislative milestones were discussed, such as the Copyright Directive within the Digital Single Market and the Artificial Intelligence Act. While progress has been made, challenges remain in ensuring adequate protection and transparency for publishers’ rights, particularly concerning remuneration for authors and publishers.
Upcoming regulations
Draga also highlighted forthcoming regulations like the European Accessibility Act and the EU deforestation regulation. These pose both challenges and opportunities for the publishing sector, requiring proactive engagement to influence outcomes beneficial to publishers.
Industry Initiatives
Efforts to mitigate regulatory impacts were noted, including seminars and webinars organised to educate stakeholders and influence policy direction. These initiatives reflect FEP’s proactive stance in shaping legislative frameworks affecting publishing.
Advocacy and future directions
The president of FEP emphasized the ongoing advocacy efforts to safeguard the publishing industry’s interests amid evolving regulatory landscapes. The importance of collaboration with other creative sectors was also stressed in championing the societal and democratic role of publishing.
The second speaker within this conversation was María José Gálvez, Director of Book Managing Director of Books and Reading Promotion in the Spanish Government who is in charge of promoting literary creation and translation, supporting the publishing industry and promoting reading, specially through public libraries.
The main themes of her insightful address revolved around the importance of dialogue, transparency, and active listening when formulating policies that affect the book sector. Thus, the key points from the presentation comprised:
Public policies and the Importance of listening to the sector
Gálvez emphasized that efficient public policies can only be achieved if the sector they affect is actively listened to. She noted that while governments should always consider the needs and opinions of the sector, their decisions should ultimately aim to serve the broader interests of society, not merely cater to specific demands from the industry. She made it clear that the role of the government is not to blindly follow the sector’s wishes but to ensure policies are aligned with the best interests of all citizens.
Equity and transparency
María José Gálvez rejected the notion of «knocking on heaven’s door» stating that the relationship between the public administration and the sectors should be based on equity, transparency, and integrity. She stressed the importance of ensuring equal access for all sectors to engage in dialogue with the government, maintaining transparency about decision-making processes, and publicly sharing the outcomes of meetings and discussions.
The role of associations
Gálvez highlighted the critical role of associations, such as the Spanish Publishing Association (FGEE), in representing the views of publishers and providing valuable insights into the challenges and needs of the sector. While acknowledging that not all publishers may agree with the PA’s stance, she emphasized that it is a significant representative body for many in the Spanish publishing sector. She underscored the need to work collaboratively with these associations to gain a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s challenges.
European and national lobbying regulation
Gálvez compared the dynamics of lobbying and public pressure in the European institutions with those in Spain, where national lobbying regulations are still being developed. She highlighted that Spain is currently working on a proposal to regulate lobbying within the country, indicating progress in creating a more structured and transparent framework for public relations between sectors and government.
The third speaker was Giovanni Hoepli, the Vice-president of the International Publishers Association (IPA), who delivered a compelling address on the vital relationship between book associations, public administrations, and the publishing sector. Hoepli, a publisher based in Italy, emphasized the importance of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared responsibility in shaping policies that serve society as a whole. His key points from the presentation include
IPA’s core mission and global influence
Hoepli provided an overview of IPA’s mission, focusing on two key pillars: the promotion and protection of copyright and the defence of the freedom to publish. He highlighted IPA’s global presence, representing 105 member organizations in 84 countries, including Spain’s Federación de Gremios de Editores de España (FGEE). The association also engages with significant global institutions such as UNESCO and WIPO to advocate for issues central to the publishing sector, including education, accessibility, and sustainability.
Collaboration and advocacy
Hoepli discussed the importance of collaboration between IPA and national associations, offering several examples of successful initiatives where the IPA supported its members in various countries. This included working with the FGEE and FEP on extended collective licensing for AI in Spain, supporting members in Kenya against damaging copyright reforms, and providing long-standing support in South Africa for the Publisher Association of South Africa in their battle against tech giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple. These examples illustrated the impact of collaboration and active lobbying in the publishing sector.
The importance of dialogue and mutual understanding
In line with the session’s theme of «Knocking on Heaven’s Door» Hoepli suggested that the relationship between book associations and public administrations should not just be about «knocking» on doors but about working together to open them. He emphasized the need for mutual understanding and cooperation to create policies that benefit society, stressing that both publishers and governments must work as partners in shaping a thriving cultural and educational landscape.
The role of publishers in education and democracy
Hoepli called attention to the important role publishers play in supporting education and democracy. He argued that unlike tech companies, publishers and booksellers take responsibility for their products, fostering reflective and critical reading that builds empathy and understanding. He pointed out that democracy depends on the free exchange of diverse ideas, which is facilitated through books. Publishers, therefore, play a crucial role in supporting educational success, enhancing literacy, and promoting national and local cultures.
Global engagement and responsibility
IPA’s involvement in initiatives such as the UN Book Clubs and the SDG Publisher Compact was highlighted, showing the association’s commitment to sustainable publishing practices and combating misinformation. The Vice-President of IPA also recalled the association’s role in launching World Book and Copyright Day and the World Book Capital City, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration in promoting reading and protecting intellectual property.
Call for partnership
Hoepli urged governments and public administrations to recognise publishers as partners, not merely as stakeholders to be lobbied. He highlighted the need for a partnership based on mutual respect and a shared responsibility to ensure that doors remain open to knowledge, culture, and freedom. He called for greater collaboration between public institutions and the publishing sector to address societal challenges and foster a more informed and literate public.
