Bureaucratic Deadlock: Romanian Literature Awaits Organizers - Frankfurt Book Fair Caught Between Ministry and Publishers

The Romanian Publishers Association (AER) is calling for the publishing community to play a decisive role in organizing Romania's participation as Guest of Honor at the 2028 Frankfurt International Book Fair. Publishers point to an eight-month delay since the contract with the organizers was signed, noting that the Ministry of Culture has yet to present a curatorial team or an institutional framework to launch the project. The Romanian Publishers Association believes that Romania's participation as Guest of Honor at the 2028 Frankfurt International Book Fair represents a significant opportunity to promote contemporary Romanian literature and increase the number of translations of Romanian authors for foreign markets. "We believe that participating in this event offers a unique chance to promote contemporary Romanian literature by increasing the number of translations of Romanian authors for international markets-not just those in German-speaking countries," states the AER. The publishers advocate for Romanian literature from both sides of the Prut River to be represented in Frankfurt through a stand that reflects the creativity of Romanian-language writers, the professionalism of publishers, and the capacity of Romanian written culture to engage in a dialogue with the international market.

• AER Points to Lack of Organizational Structures

The association's Board of Directors affirms that publishers are prepared to collaborate with literary agents, translators, writers, booksellers, and the state institutions that will oversee the project's finances. "Publishers are willing to collaborate with other book market professionals (...) and with the state institutions that will manage the financial aspects of this project, to ensure that the status of Guest of Honor at the world's most important professional book fair becomes a genuine success," the statement reads. According to the AER (Association of Publishers in Romania), the involvement of publishers in the project's preparation has never been in question. The association notes that consultations took place even before February 20, 2026-the date the contract was signed between the Ministry of Culture and the organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Discussions were held both with the fair's management team, who visited Romania in July 2025, and with ministry staff. These discussions led to the outlining of advisory bodies, which the Minister of Culture was to establish via a ministerial order. "Yet, this has not been done in the eight months since the contract was signed," the publishers assert.

• Collaboration Protocol Remains Unfinalized

The AER states that it responded to invitations from the Ministry of Culture in June-during the Bookfest International Book Fair in Bucharest-and again in July, at which point the principles for a collaboration protocol were reportedly agreed upon. According to the association, ministry representatives have yet to draft the agreed-upon document. Furthermore, a meeting requested by the Minister of Culture during the Bookfest International Book Fair in Chişinău, held in early September, also failed to materialize. The publishers express their regret that, eight months after the contract was signed, the Ministry of Culture is still unable to present a curatorial team or an institutional mechanism to begin the actual work of preparing Romania's participation. The AER (Association of Publishers in Romania) states that it will support efforts to organize the project, which it considers to be Romania's most significant cultural project abroad.

These statements from the association follow remarks made last week by the interim Minister of Culture, Andras Istvan Demeter, who indicated that he is awaiting a proposal from the AER regarding the organization of Romania's participation as the Guest of Honor at the 2028 Frankfurt Book Fair. The Minister stated that, in the absence of a proposal from the association, the responsibility might be entrusted to the Office for Film and Cultural Investments.

This exchange of positions highlights disagreements concerning the organization of the project and the respective roles that publishers and state institutions should play in preparing for Romania's participation in one of the most important international events dedicated to the publishing industry.