MEIA questions lack of consultation behind €50,000 book subsidy scheme

The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association has questioned the lack of consultation behind a €50,000 subsidy scheme for printed books, raising concerns about its “adequacy” and how it was formulated.

MEIA called for greater transparency in consultation processes, evidence-based policymaking and support mechanisms “that reflect the true needs of the sector”.

Launched in April 2026 by the National Book Council, the scheme aims to mitigate costs related to the printing of books published with a Maltese ISBN number. The subsidy covers up to 40 per cent of all costs, up to a maximum of €2,000 for each receipt.

While they welcomed the recognition that Malta’s publishing sector requires support in the face of rising production costs, MEIA said “serious questions” remain regarding how this €50,000 was determined, on what basis it was calculated, and why no consultation was undertaken with publishers and industry stakeholders.

“The publishing sector is not asking merely for symbolic gestures. It requires policies that are informed by the realities of those operating within the industry and developed through meaningful dialogue,” MEIA said in a statement on Friday.

“Decisions affecting an entire sector cannot continue to be designed without those directly impacted being at the table,” they added.

Earlier this month, publishers representing around 80 per cent of Malta’s annual book production announced they would boycott the first Annual Book Conference, dismissing it as a hollow PR exercise that fails to address the industry’s “existential threats”.

For the past year, MEIA has consistently advocated for direct support mechanisms for publishers, particularly in response to the unprecedented increase in paper and printing costs that have placed significant strain on the local publishing ecosystem.

The need for a paper subsidy was the subject of discussions with the government as part of the national budget process.

Following these discussions, the National Book Council indicated it was “already providing sufficient support” to publishers, MEIA said.

However, MEIA challenged the claims through formal correspondence to the Office of the Prime Minister, presenting evidence and industry statistics demonstrating the reality faced by publishers, including higher paper costs and lack of targeted support addressing operational burdens.

MEIA also highlighted a “clear discrepancy” in the distribution of funds, noting that newspapers and media portals have benefitted from support mechanisms to mitigate operational costs while book publishers have “largely remained excluded” from similar measures.

During discussions with the National Book Council, MEIA called for more consultation and review to ensure the subsidy fund can “achieve meaningful impact”. However, the association reported the Council wanted to proceed with the implementation of the scheme without delay to test it in its current form.

“Policies work best when they are developed correctly from the outset, not after years of proving their deficiencies,” MEIA said.

“The publishing industry forms an essential part of Malta’s cultural infrastructure. Publishers play a critical role in supporting authors, preserving language and heritage, developing audiences, and ensuring the circulation of Maltese literature locally and internationally. Support for the sector must therefore be treated as a strategic cultural investment rather than a temporary or symbolic intervention.”