RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, of 18 May 1989 concerning the promotion of books and reading (89/C 183/01)

THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

Having regard to the priority which they attached to books and reading in their conclusions of 27 May 1988 concerning future priority actions in the cultural field,

Having regard to the part concerning books of the resolution of the European Parliament of 17 February 1989 on a fresh boost for Community action in the cultural sector and the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee of 14 April 1988 on the same theme,

NOTE the general thrust of the Commission communication of 26 April 1989 on books and reading;

REAFFIRM whilst respecting their resolution of 27 May 1988 on the future organization of their work, their will to cooperate in the promotion of all the elements of the book-chain leading from the author to the reader;

DECIDE that European countries which are not members of the Community and organizations concerned with European cultural cooperation, especially the Council of Europe, can be invited to participate in certain specific actions of common interest;

APPROVE the actions set out in the Annex and instruct the Committee on Cultural Affairs to draw up and agree on the details of their implementation, including the financial aspect, as speedily as possible;

AGREE to review the progress made with respect to this resolution in two years' time on the basis of a report from the Committee on Cultural Affairs.

ANNEX BOOKS AND READING : ACTIONS

1. Guide for authors and translators

- this guide, to be presented by the Commission, will contain information about their legal, social and fiscal status in the different Member States of the Community.

2. Programme (1989 to 1992) for the publication of statistics - book sector

- this programme, put into effect progressively by the Commission, in collaboration with the Council of Europe and UNESCO, will include the publication in 1989 of a first set of European statistics relating to books.

3. (a) European literary prize

(b) Prize for the best translations of literary works

- the two prizes will be awarded each year upon the proposal of an independent jury in the framework of the European City of Culture, the details of these prizes to be fixed before the end of 1989.

4. Pilot project for financial assistance for translations of contemporary literary works

- this project, decided upon in its broad outlines in a resolution of the Council and the ministers responsible for cultural affairs meeting within the Council on 7 November 1987, has been launched for a five-year period beginning in 1989.

5. Scholarships and travel awards for courses at the colleges for literary translators ; network of these colleges and other measures to promote literary translation

- an increase in the grants made by the Commission to such courses ; encouragement of a network among existing colleges.

6. Conservation of books made from acid paper and use of "permanent paper"

- intensified collaboration, to be organized by the Commission and the Member States, among libraries and archives and taking into account the work of specialized international organizations, in favour of conservation of books threatened by the fragility of acid paper ; information campaign to be launched by the Commission and the Member States in favour of "permanent paper".

7. Comparative study of export aid measures for books

- this study, to be prepared by the Commission, will provide better knowledge of the export aid measures existing in different Member States.

8. Campaign for raising European public awareness of books and reading

- this campaign, which will include actions using television for raising public awareness, will be carried out in collaboration with the Council of Europe and UNESCO.