At the Reichstag on the Platz der Republik in Berlin. Image – Getty: Hanohiki
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘Basic Prerequisites for Democratic Participation’
In a similar bid to the Italian ministerial meeting held in Milan on Monday, an appeal has been formulated and announced today (November 14) by German publishing industry players for a future national regime.
As many Publishing Perspectives readers know, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has said he’ll seek a December vote of confidence in the Bundestag, which, as the Associated Press is writing, is expected to lead to an early election in February, following the collapse of the three-party coalition of 2021.
Today’s announcement from the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Germany’s publishers and booksellers association, says that “the elected representatives of publishers, the book trade and book logistics” in the Börsenverein have worked out “their demands for a future federal government.”
Their communication, the read-out from this working session, is a forceful one. and we quote the heart of this new statement here:
“We demand framework conditions that relieve the burden on culture and strengthen it, instead of cutting it to pieces.
Related article: ‘Reading Skills in Germany: New Study Results Concern the Market.’ Image – Getty: Egoitz Bengoetxea Iguaran
“The book industry must be given much greater consideration in economic policy decisions—especially those relating to small and medium-sized businesses—so that it can continue to act as a cornerstone of pluralistic discourse in our democratic society.
“It urgently needs to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and financial relief, for example through the culturally necessary step of setting the VAT rate to zero percent. Budget cuts to literary funds, translation funding and foreign trade fairs must be reversed.
“Education and reading—especially in early childhood—must be promoted in a consolidated, clear initiative by the federal and state governments. The educational emergency in our country continues to grow and politicians are largely turning a blind eye to it. Yet education and reading skills are basic prerequisites for democratic participation.
“In addition, artificial intelligence must be more strictly regulated by politicians in areas such as the use of rights. The cultural and creative industries are already putting forward concrete regulatory proposals in this regard and are happy to engage in direct dialogue with government representatives.”
The working group creating this statement comprises:
- Jo Lendle, chair of the Börsenverein’s committee for publishers
- Stephan Schierke, chair of the intermediate book trade committee
- Christiane Schulz-Rother, chair of the committee for the general book trade
The exercise producing these comments on the situation is part of a series of specialist committee meetings held twice each year by the association’s committee leaders.
More on the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels is here, more on education and publishing is here, more on literacy is here, more on the German book publishing market is here, and more on the impact that politics can have on the book business is here.
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