Circulation of European literary works

Worum geht es in dieser Ausschreibung?

The call funds the translation, publication, distribution and promotion of European literary works, with attention to less translated languages and fair conditions for literary translators. It is aimed at public and private organisations active in the publishing and book sector, applying alone or in a consortium.

Was fördert diese Ausschreibung?

Scope

The call supports projects that translate, publish, distribute and promote European literary works, such as novels, short stories, theatre and radio plays, poetry, literary reportage, comic books, and children's and youth literature. European literary works are works by authors linked to a Creative Europe country by nationality or residence, or recognised as part of the European literary heritage. Each project must include at least 5 European literary works to be translated, published, distributed and promoted.

Priorities

Applicants should propose projects that contribute to:

• the transnational circulation and diversity of European literary works, notably works written in less translated languages;
• promoting reading and the discoverability of the supported works to a large audience;
• the profession of literary translator, with good working conditions and fair remuneration; publishers should name translators visibly in the books, preferably on the cover, and state the source language;
• the competitiveness of the book sector through cooperation between publishers, booksellers, libraries and other actors in the value chain.

Applicants must also describe how their project contributes to the EU's overarching priorities. Activities supporting the circulation of books from or into Ukraine, translation into or from Ukrainian, and books in Ukrainian for refugees and displaced people are encouraged; printing non-translated Ukrainian books is eligible in this context.

Eligible activities

• Translation, publication, promotion and distribution of literary works as part of a robust publishing strategy and an effective distribution plan.
• Activities that facilitate collaboration between authors, translators, publishers, distributors, booksellers, libraries, literary events and festivals.

Activities are organised in work packages, with mandatory packages for project management, translation, publication and distribution, and promotion and communication, plus an optional package for reprinting Ukrainian literary works.

Translators and costs

Machine translation is excluded; publishers will have to sign contracts with professional human literary translators. It is recommended that 20 to 30% of the total project budget goes to translator remuneration (this percentage applies to novels). The grant is a lump sum. Costs related to translation and publication rights are not eligible. Financial support to third parties is allowed under set conditions, up to €60,000 per third party.

Expected outcomes

The action is expected to support around 40 projects, run by a single organisation or by a consortium.

Wann endet die Einreichungsfrist?

27. Januar 2027 (83 Tage)

27 January 2027, 17:00 CET (Brussels time). One-stage submission; the indicative call opening date is 21 October 2026.