Image – Getty: Reinhard Krull
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Krauss Vom Cleff: ‘Our Industry Is Happy to Advise’
With an element of good timing—Germany’s fifth annual Freedom of Expression Week, Meinungsfreiheit, now is in full sway through Saturday (May 10)—the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Germany’s publishers and booksellers association, is calling for “rapid implementation” of the coalition agreement between the CDU (Christian Democratic and Conservative Party), CSU (Christian Social Union), and SPD (Social Democratic Party).
That agreement includes language that recognizes “the social and economic contribution of the cultural and creative industries” the Börsenverein notes, and it’s applauding the coalition’s “plan to strengthen [those industries] with appropriate framework conditions.”
The Börsenverein, eyeing the new government’s Tuesday (May 6) taking-of-office, writes to news-media contacts, “As soon as the federal government is constituted, it will be time to act quickly.”
And the publishers and booksellers go on to list what they see as four primary points that need quick attention:
- Structural publishing subsidies: “Like the traffic light coalition,” the Börsenverein writes, “the future German government wants to explore structural publishing subsidies. However, small, independent publishers should not be fobbed off with further audit mandates. It is now time to finally secure their culturally vital work with a promise of reliably calculable funding.”
- Culture Pass: “The coalition also proposes a review of this. However, it was already clear during the last legislative period that the Culture Pass makes a lasting contribution to strengthening young people’s cultural participation and ensures low-threshold access to cultural offerings. Based on this, concrete planning for its continuation should begin immediately.” As Publishing Perspectives readers know, Germany’s culture voucher for 18-year-old students has had a very rough ride, its value having been cut in half in January 2024.
- Artificial Intelligence: “According to the coalition agreement, copyrights should also be protected in connection with generative AI. This is necessary for fair competition. Furthermore, market-based remuneration on a license basis for the use of AI must be ensured, and the transparency obligations for AI providers stipulated in the AI act must be effectively implemented.”
- Bureaucracy: The immediate program to reduce bureaucracy and the intention to prevent bureaucratic red tape in the implementation of EU law are welcome. Above all, the disproportionate documentation requirements associated with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) must be reduced to the necessary minimum.”
Peter Kraus vom Cleff
In a comment from Peter Krauss vom Cleff, the Börsenverein chief, says, “The coalition agreement contains important impulses for the cultural and creative industries, and the book industry in particular.
“Now it is important,” he says, “that these announcements be swiftly followed by political action.
“Our industry is happy to advise those responsible at the economic and cultural policy level on the concrete design of the framework conditions.”
You can read a copy of the three-party coalition agreement, Responsibility for Germany, here, in German.
More from Publishing Perspectives on the German book publishing industry is here, more on the work of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels is here, more on publishing and politics is here, and more on issues in European publishing is here.