STATEMENTS

EWC Statements

Brussels, Belgium, June 2026, AGM EWC. © Fred Guerdin ©eyecone

Critical Voices in Critical Times

June 16, 2026

EWC Statement pdf: EWC Statement adopted by the AGM 2026 The European Writers’ Council (EWC), representing over 260,000 professional authors in the text and book sector, calls for the recognition of the Writer as Critical Infrastructure for the cohesion and integration of our societies. Societies’…

The present delegates of the EWC member associations from all over Europe are reading the statement in a public action in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, 13th June 2026. Picture: (c) eyecone

Defending The Writer as Critical Infrastructure

June 16, 2026

European authors from 27 countries convene in Brussels to defend the role of the Writer as critical infrastructure Brussels, 15th June 2026 Press release The 55 Member organisations of the European Writers’ Council (EWC), representing 260,000 writers and translators from 34 countries, call on governments, public institutions, and cultural stakeholders…

EWC Position Paper on the 5th Anniversary of the entry into force of the Directive on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market (EU) 2019/790 on 7th June 2026

June 1, 2026

Dear Member States, dear European Commission: Thanks for nothing! The Directive (EU) 2019/790, once praised as a milestone for protecting authors and intended to close the value gap, is today suffering from massive misinterpretations. National implementations leave book authors with no means of enforcement and…

Council of Europe says “Yes to Authors’ Rights” and “No to the TDM exceptions for AI” – but when will the European Commission ever see reason?

May 29, 2026

While the 46-nation international organisation PACE, speaking on behalf of 700 million Europeans firmly upholds the values and rights of authors, the EU AI Office persists in its misguided stance on the TDM exception. The EWC calls on the Commission to listen to PACE’s arguments.…

WIPO’s 48th SCCR – increasing pressure on human authors

May 25, 2026

From 19th to 22nd May, at World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO’s 48th session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and related Rights (SCCR), the European Writers’ Council was represented by Secretary General Nicole Pfister Fetz on site in Geneva and remotely by Commissioner for Political Affairs Nina George. (more…)

The Digital Omnibus on AI is running over European values, rights and fairness

May 13, 2026

The importance of acting quick; but for who? The Digital Omnibus on AI is running over European values, rights and fairness Brussels, 12th May 2026 Our concern (more…)

World Book Day – or: The Writer as Critical Infrastructure Remembrance Day

April 23, 2026

Brussels, 23rd April 2026 Celebrating the UNESCO World Book & Copyright Day 2026 – or: (more…)

Solidarity with writers in Belarus against increasing repression

April 15, 2026

Statement of the European Writers’ Council Brussels, 15th April 2026 The European Writers’ Council stands in solidarity with writers in Belarus and with our member organisation. We express our support for the statements of PEN International and the International Publishers Association, which draw attention…

WIPO’s AIII Launch: EWC’s intervention and appeal to always respect the ART principle

March 17, 2026

EWC at the WIPO Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Interchange (AIII) Geneva, 17 March 2026 On the occasion of the launch of the AI Infrastructure Interchange (AIII, pronounced “A-triple-I”), and the presentation of the selected experts within the Technical Exchange Network (TEN), EWC took the floor to…

EWC Analysis of the adopted EP resolution on “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges”

March 13, 2026

Are 420 million euros as compensation for damages done by AI for all authors and artists in Europe enough? EWC analysis of the adopted resolution on “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges” (2025/2058(INI)) – Committee on Legal Affairs – Rapporteur: Axel Voss. (more…)

When ART rules: The EWC welcomes the adoption of the “Voss Report”, setting up clear protections for authors in the era of generative AI.

March 11, 2026

Statement/ press release On 10 March, the EU Parliament voted by 460 to 71, with 88 abstentions, to adopt the now famous “Voss Report”. The European Writers’ Council applauds this vote, which makes it clear that the EU stands for the protection of copyrighted creative…

EWC on the MFF/AgoraEU proposals: “Marginal compared to what Europe’s vibrant cultural landscape offers”

March 4, 2026

Foster the writer as critical infrastructure of European values, fundamental rights, and a stable democracy. Feedback of the European Writers’ Council (EWC) on the Report on the Proposal for a Regulation establishing the ‘AgoraEU’ programme for 2028-2034 (2025/0550(COD)) Dear Co-Rapporteur and Shadow Rapporteurs, Dear Members…

“The Writer is first – but considered last”: EWC’s submission to the CULT’s Own Initiative Report on CCS in the Age of AI

March 2, 2026

“The Writer is first – but considered last”. Written submission by the EWC on the CULT Own Initiative Report (2025/2180(INI)): Six key aspects the authors of the Book Sector urge the Rapporteurs to be considered. (more…)

PLR International: EWC is founding member of New Association

December 11, 2025

International book sector organisations jointly establish new association The European Writers’ Council (EWC) is proud to be a founding member of the new PLR International (Public Lending Right* International) association. We are convinced (more…)

Joint Call by EWC & CEATL to stand in solidarity with human translators

November 24, 2025

Joint Statement by EWC and CEATL to call on the global book sector, including writers, agents, publishers and readers, to stand in solidarity with human literary translators. (more…)

EWC stays cautious on the Anthropic settlement proposal for U.S. copyright claims

September 9, 2025

Brussels, 9th of September 2025 PDF: EWC Press Release Anthropic Settlement Press Release Cautious Welcome by EWC for the Anthropic Settlement proposal: The right signal, but no basis for future remuneration negotiations Anthropic, a Californian-based tech-giant who trained their AI large language model on pirated…

Joint Statement by EWC, EFJ and CEATL on the Own Initiative Report Copyright and AI by the JURI Committee and Rapporteur MEP Axel Voss.

September 1, 2025

Joint Statement by EWC, EFJ and CEATL on the Own Initiative Report Copyright and AI by the JURI Committee and Rapporteur MEP Axel Voss. On the occasion of the stakeholder roundtable to discuss Axel Voss’ own initiative report on AI & Copyright on September 1st…

EWC’s Position | GPAI Code of Practice & the Template

July 26, 2025

The GPAI Code of Practice is an industry-over-friendly fig leave, and an invitation to a self-service buffet, serving (non-EU) AI companies. It could have been a (more…)