# Federation of European Publishers

The Federation of European Publishers (FEP) is an independent, non-commercial umbrella association of book publishers associations in the European Union and Europe.
FEP represents 31 national associations of publishers of books, learned journals and educational materials, in all formats, in Europe, and is thus the voice of the great majority of book publishers.
The FEP Secretariat is located in Brussels, Belgium.
The book is the first cultural industry in Europe (EU and EEA) with an annual sales revenue of book publishers of approximately € 24.4 billion according to a survey conducted by FEP for the year 2013.
A total of about 585,000 new titles were issued by European publishers in 2013 and approximately 500,000 people are employed full time in the book value chain.
These figures show the importance of publishing industry in terms of innovation, growth and employment in Europe. The book industry is a key player in the knowledge society and economy and contributes actively to achieve the Lisbon Agenda goals.

## History

Founded on 19 January 1967 (then called Groupement des éditeurs de livres de la Communauté - GELC),
FEP deals with European legislation and advises publishers' associations on copyright and other legislative issues.
Timeline:
1958
First consideration about monitoring European matters.
1967
GELC (Groupement des éditeurs de livres de la Communauté) founded by Belgian, French, Italian, Dutch and German Publishers Associations.
1973
British, Danish and Irish Publishers Associations join GELC as their countries become member of the European Community.
1981
Greek Publishers Association joins GELC as its country becomes member of the European Community.
1984
GELC secretariat is reorganised to give it a permanent representative with EC officials and directorate generals.
1986
Spanish and Portuguese Publishers Associations join GELC as their countries gain membership of the European Community.
1990
The Federation of European Publishers (FEP)/ la Fédération des Editeurs Européens (FEE) becomes the umbrella organisation representing European book publishers associations, Luxembourg Publishers Association joins FEP.
1992
Austrian and Finnish Publishers Associations join FEP. The Norwegian association also adheres, even though a referendum rejects Norwegian EC membership.
1996
FEP drafts new statutes designed to ensure that candidates associations from Central and Eastern Europe could become members.
1997
FEP 30th anniversary
2002
Hungarian, Cypriot, Czech and Slovenian Publishers Associations join FEP
2003
Lithuanian Publishers Association joins FEP
2004
Polish, Estonian and Icelandic Publishers Associations join FEP
2006
Bulgarian Publishers Association joins FEP
2007
FEP 40th anniversary
2011
Romanian Publishers Association joins FEP
2013
Serbian Publishers & Booksellers Association joins FEP
2014
Latvian Publishers Association joins FEP
2017
FEP 50th anniversary
2024
Montenegrin Publishers & Booksellers Association joins FEP
2025
Cyprus Publishers Association joins FEP

## Membership

The Federation of European Publishers has members from 31 national associations:
Austria: Hauptverband des österreichischen Buchhandels [de]
Belgium (French): Association des Editeurs Belges
Belgium (Dutch): Vlaamse Uitgevers Vereniging (VUV)
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Book Association
Cyprus: Cyprus Publishers Association
Czech Republic: The Association of Czech Booksellers and Publishers
Denmark: Forlæggerforeningen [da]
Estonia: Estonian Publishers' Association
Finland: Suomen Kustannusyhdistys [fi]
France: Syndicat national de l'édition [fr]
Germany: Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels
Greece: Hellenic Federation Publishers and Booksellers
Hungary: Hungarian Publisher's and Bookseller's
Iceland: Icelandic Publishers Association
Ireland: Irish Book Publishers' Association
Italy: Associazione Italiana Editori [it]
Latvia: Latvian Publishers' Association
Lithuania: Lithuanian Publishers association
Luxembourg: Fédération Luxembourgeoise des Editeurs
Montenegro: Association of Publishers and Booksellers of Montenegro
Netherlands: Nederlands Uitgeversverbond [nl]
Norway: Norwegian Publishers Association
Poland: Polish Chamber of Books
Portugal: Associação Portuguesa de Editores e Livreiros [pt]
Romania: Federation of Publishers in Romania
Serbia: Association of Publishers and Booksellers of Serbia
Slovakia: Association of Publishers and Booksellers of the Slovak Republic
Slovenia: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Spain: Federación de Gremios de Editores de España [es]
Sweden: Svenska Förläggareföreningen [sv]
United Kingdom: The Publishers' Association

## FEP Board - 2024-2026 mandate

Ms Sonia Draga, President
President of Sonia Draga Wydawnictwo (Poland)
Mr Phaedon Kidoniatis, Vice-President
Representative of the Cooperation of Greek Publishers’ Associations and Founder of the publishing house Eurasia Publications
Ms Renate Punka, Treasurer
Managing Director of the Latvian publishing house Jānis Roze
President of the Latvian Publishers Association
Ms Catherine Blanche, Board Member
Senior Counsellor International Policy at the French Publishers Association (SNE - Syndicat National de l’Edition)
Ms Barbara Budrich, Board Member
Director of the publishing house Verlag Barbara Budrich
Mr Jesper Monthán, Board Member
Director Nordic Business Development Bonnier Books
Chairman of the Board of the Swedish Publishers Association (Svenska Förläggareföreningen)

## List of FEP Presidents

1990-1992: President Alain Gründ
1992-1994: President Pere Vicens
1994-1996: President Volker Schwarz
1996-1998: President John Clement
1998-2000: President Ulrico Carlo Hoepli
2000-2002: President Michael Gill
2002-2004: President Anton Hilscher
2004-2006: President Arne Bach
2006-2008: President Jonas Modig
2008-2010: President Federico Motta
2010-2012: President Fergal Tobin
2012-2014: President Piotr Marciszuk
2014-2016: President Pierre Dutilleul
2016-2018: President Henrique Mota
2018-2020: Rudy Vanschoonbeek
2020- 2022: Peter Kraus vom Cleff
2022-2024: Ricardo Franco Levi
2024-ongoing: Sonia Draga