Circulation of European literary works

The action is expected to support around 40 projects, implemented either by a single entity (mono-beneficiary) or by a consortium of organisations (multi-beneficiary).

Each project will:

• promote the diversity of literature in the target country (or countries) by including works of fiction from countries that are under-represented, and in particular, works written in lesser used languages.
• support the profession of literary translator, and respect the principle of fair remuneration.
• propose the most effective distribution and promotion strategies, and the most appropriate book format, in order to ensure wide and easy access to European literary works and to contribute to the development of the readership of European literature.
• encourage collaboration between different actors of the book value chain: authors, translators, publishers, distributors, booksellers, libraries, literary events, or festivals.
• contribute to the EU overarching priorities.

This action supports projects that translate, publish, distribute, and promote European works of fiction.

Themes and priorities

In line with the current cultural policy priorities, applicants should propose projects contributing to the European Union overarching priorities and meeting the specific priorities of the call:

1. EU Overarching priorities.

Applicants must describe in their application how, in the design and implementation of their projects, they intend to contribute to the EU's efforts in terms of greening and digital transition and respond to the priority of inclusion and gender equality and international dimension.

2. The following specific priorities:

• to increase the transnational circulation and the diversity of European literary works, through the translation, publication, distribution and promotion of works of fiction written in less widely spoken languages.
• to promote reading and the linguistic and cultural diversity of European literature to a large audience.
• to support the profession of literary translator in line with the principles of good working conditions and fair remuneration.
• to increase the competitiveness of the book sector by encouraging cooperation between different actors within the book value chain, notably between publishers, booksellers, and libraries.

This action complements the other Creative Europe supports to the book and publishing sector such as the Day of European Authors (reading promotion and discovery of European literature) and the European Union Prize for Literature (promotion of European emerging authors). Applicants are encouraged to look for synergies with these actions.

In addition, and as part of the EU exceptional support to Ukraine, projects aimed at providing literary works in the Ukrainian language to Ukrainian refugees and displaced people will be encouraged. In this context, the printing in Ukrainian of (non-translated) Ukrainian literary works will be eligible.

In order to support the literary translation profession in accordance with the principles of good working conditions and fair remuneration, it is recommended that between 20 and 30% of the total project budget is allocated to the remuneration of translators and that translators are given recognition and visibility, in particular by naming them, preferably on the cover page.

Furthermore, in order to preserve linguistic diversity, in particular lesser-used languages, the quality of translation and the profession of literary translator, publishers must contract professional literary translators, who must be referenced in the Creative Europe database. In this respect, publishers must comply with national standards and best practices.

Translation, publication, promotion, and distribution activities as well as activities addressing the themes and priorities described above. More specifically:

• Work packages of eligible works of fiction to be translated, published, distributed and promoted, based on a sound editorial, distribution and promotion strategy.
• Activities to facilitate collaboration between different actors of the book and publishing value chain - authors, translators, publishers, disributors, booksellers, libraries, literary events or festivals.

The proposed activities should be grouped, in the application form part B, in coherent work packages (i.e., major sub-division of the project). Each work package must have a corresponding list of activities, deliverables, milestones, and critical risks.