EU Read

Founded in 2000, EU READ is a consortium of European reading promotion organisations who believe that reading is a prerequisite for full participation in today's media-led and culturally diverse society.

Currently, its members comprise institutions from Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Portugal. The aim of this unique European platform is to exchange knowledge, experiences and concepts, and to jointly develop new strategies for the promotion of reading. EU READ meets regularly and organises systematic lobbying for politicians, industry and commerce. This work raises awareness of the fact that a strong structural framework for reading promotion on a national and European level is absolutely vital.

As you will see from the information on this website, the work of the individual members is very diverse; but there are clear similarities in each organisation's strategies for reading promotion.

In 2009, Viv Bird, CEO of the UK's Booktrust, took over as chairman of EU READ.

Find out about EU Read projects affiliated to Bookstart in the UK