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EWC – European Writers Council |
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Introduction
The EUROPEAN WRITERS' COUNCIL was founded in 1977 and established with the first set of statutes in 1985 as The Federation of European Writers' Associations. As of January 2006, there are 55 member organisations (including 3 supra-national ones) in 29 countries of Europe, representing some 55.000 individual professional writers and literary translators, plus two associate members.
The EWC stands up for the democratic principles of freedom and equality – in particular the Human Rights to freedom of expression and freedom of information. It enjoys the support of Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and other institutions of European relevance.
Representing authors as a trans-national organisation, the EWC is recognised by the major competent European bodies and political authorities, UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organisation/WIPO.
Structure
The European Writers' Council has been established as a GbR under German Civil Law for the last twelve years and will be established as an a.i.s.b.l. under Belgian law in the course of 2006.
The EWC is legally represented by the Board: the president and two vice presidents (constituting the Managing Board) plus four additional members. These professional writers, all acting in an honorary capacity, have been elected most recently in 2005 by the member organisations’ delegates on the occasion of the XIX European Writers' Council. According to the actual Statutes, the Congresses convene at least biennially, discuss and adopt the activity reports and generally outline the EWC's policy.
The duty of running the day to day business is assigned to the General Secretary in close contact with the members of the Board (living in seven different countries of Europe). Since 2004, the EWC has been present in Brussels with a small office in addition to the General Secretariat based in Munich.
Aims
The EWC defends the moral rights and professional interests of authors (writers and literary translators) at the European level, in legal, political and economic contexts, concerning the digital challenges, globalisation, social and cultural policy.
It champions authors’ rights and both the diversity of literatures and cross-border cultural exchange for a better understanding among the peoples of Europe via expert meetings, public events and media projects.
Activities
With a Newsletter, an e-monthly service and a variety of documentations, resolutions, appeals & conference papers the EWC
- keeps the member organisations up-to-date and connected,
- disseminates information concerning authors' (moral) rights, legal and economic needs in order to make the partners of writers and literary translators, i.e. readers and other users of their work, understand and support their point,
- cooperates with the professionals of the book chain, multi-media and other creators,
- introduces to both the competent authorities and a wider public the results of its ongoing work and trans-European cultural networking,
- contributes to the difficult development of a cultural policy for the ever growing European Union and beyond.
The EWC's projects and events are the most lively, most interesting and most visible part of its existence. As a rule, these activities take place in a close and friendly co-operation between one or several member organisations, the EWC Board plus the General Secretary and – in many cases – other partners.
Contact
EWC - General Secretariat:
Myriam Diocaretz
87, rue du Prince Royal
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
T +32-2-5510 893
e-mail:
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http://www.europeanwriters.eu/ |
