The EWC will be welcoming members, readers, and guests at the forthcoming Frankfurt Book Fair. Our federation will be represented by President Sebastià Portell, Secretary General Nicole Pfister Fetz as well as Commissioner for Political Affairs and international bestselling author Nina George at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Several events as well as the traditional networking cocktail will ensure an excellent opportunity for a good discussion. Please find below the detailed EWC programme at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair – or here to download (1 page, pdf).

 

Wednesday 7th October, 16:30-19:00, hall 3.0 / F86 

Networking Cocktail  

The European Writers’ Council (EWC), the European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations (CEATL), and the Swiss professional writers’ and translators’ association A*dS, in collaboration with the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, kindly invite all authors and colleagues from the book sector present at the Frankfurt Book Fair #FBM26 to a Networking Cocktail with prosecco, snacks, and music. The event will start at 16:30 with some food for thought in German by Liliia Zhernov, who discusses the relationship between freedom of expression and linguistic expression in literature. At 17:00 Welcome by Cornelia Mechler (A*dS), Sebastià Portell (EWC) and Francesca Novajra(CEATL).  

Registration is not required. We are looking forward to seeing you and to a stimulating exchange! 

 

Thursday 8th October, 10:00-10:45, hall 3.0 / J34 

„Gott spielen“ – Playing God  

Panel in German. 

On the Inspiration Stage Book Launch & Panel discussion with Claudia Hamm (CEATL Working Group AI), Hans Neubauer, and EWC’s Political Commissioner, Nina George, about the impact of generative software and large language models on language, writing, reading, literacy, economy, and democracy.  

 

Thursday 8th October, 12: 30–13:15,  Czechia Stand, hall 3.1 / C65   

Zero VAT and Fixed Book Prices: The Road to a Sustainable Book Market? 

Panel in English. 

In 2024, Czechia became the second country to introduce zero VAT on books, inspiring others. What has this achieved? What still needs to be done? Is it time for fixed pricing? A trade association head, the largest bookstore chain and an author with a pan-European view present their experiences. 

With Martin Vopěnka, Chairman of the Association of Czech Booksellers and Publishers (SČKN); Benedikt Föger, President of the Austrian Booksellers’ Association, Nina George, Commissioner for Political Affairs & President of Honour, EWC.  

Moderator: Anna Bloch Štičková, Department of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. 

 

Thursday 8th October, 13:30-14:15, Guest of Honor Czechia Pavilion / Forum 1 / A1 

AI and the Future of European Literature 

Panel in English. 

AI is transforming the book market. By what means are the rights of writers and translators protected? A discussion on facing up to licensing threats and preparing for a new creative era.  

The discussion will focus on the pressing impacts of AI on the book market from the perspective of experts from the European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations (CEATL President Francesca Novajra) and the European Writers’ Council (EWC President Sebastià Portell).  

Thursday 08 October, 15:00-15:45, hall 3.0 / F86 

AI and transparency – are these going along? 

Panel in German. 

New transparency rules for AI have been in force in the EU since 2 August… so what now? Without transparency, there can be no ethical and fair AI – that is the conclusion reached by many authors’ organisations. Why is transparency so important? What is already being done? How should we respond to a lack of transparency, for example when ‘fake’ books are not declared? How do other sectors view this issue? Nicole Pfister Fetz, EWC Secretary General, discusses with Anna-Sophia Lumpe, voiceover artist and Chair of the Verband Deutscher Sprecher:innen e.V., Prof. Dr. Ing. Sebastian Stober, Professor for AI (Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg), and Peter Haag, publisher Kein & Aber. 

 

Thursday 8th October, 16:00-17:30, hall 4.0 / J21 

Happy 10: Join the Network Authors’ Rights Reception!  

The German language book authors alliance of 15 writers’ and translators’ organisations, the Network Authors’ Rights (Netzwerk Autorenrechte, NAR), is celebrating ten years of existence, after being founded in October 2016 during the heated-up debates on the EU Copyright Directive, and upon the initiative of EWC Commissioner for Political Affairs, Nina George. Meet, chat, and have a drink together with colleagues from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other EWC colleagues join Frankfurt Book Fair. The NAR is happy to have you at the PAN Lounge – Phantastik Autor*innen-Netzwerk (Network Fantasy & SciFi Writers)! 

 Registration at EWC’s required.

Saturday 10th October, 11:00-11:30, hall 5.0 / E13 

Cultural freedom under pressure 

Discussion in German – live and later on air. 

Nina George (Commissioner for Political Affairs, EWC) is taking part in a literadio discussion with Astrid Nischkauer on current issues facing authors in Europe. The discussion will cover AI, digital visibility and dependence on oligopolistic players such as Amazon, as well as distribution struggles, marginalised voices and the removal of unpopular books from public libraries by right-wing conservative parties. 

The conversation is recorded live and will then be available to listen to online at literadio.org.