Brussels, 2nd November, 2011 – The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will give the key note speech at the 50th Anniversary Congress of the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association, at The Square in Brussels on 8th November 2011. European Commission Vice-President, Viviane Reding, responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, will give the opening speech at the event. The closing speech will be given by Commissioner Michel Barnier, who is responsible for Internal Market and Services.

The ENPA Congress, which will be attended by publishers from around Europe, will include two policy panels comprising Members of the European Parliament, senior representatives of European institutions, publishers and journalists. The first panel will focus on “The Role of Newspapers in Democratic Society” and the second will look at “The Future of News Media”. Ben Fenton, Chief Media Correspondent of the Financial Times, will moderate the debate.

ENPA President, Ivar Rusdal, said: “The very fact that so many high level politicians and European representatives will join us to mark ENPA’s 50th Anniversary, points to the continued importance and influence of newspapers in our society. The special mission of a free and independent press, to hold public authorities to account, is as vital today as ever.”

The ENPA 50th Anniversary Congress takes place at a time when the European Commission is reviewing its VAT System, an issue of great significance to the newspaper business. ENPA Executive Director, Francine Cunningham, said: “It is indispensable that the zero, super reduced and reduced VAT rates for printed newspapers are maintained, since this contributes so much to public policy goals. The EU should also allow Member States to apply these rates in a technologically neutral way to newspapers in digital formats, which are today subject to a standard VAT rate. The current distinction is simply out of date.”

You can download the ENPA press release and the Programme of the event here.


The European Newspaper Publishers' Association is an international non-profit organisation representing newspapers on all platforms. ENPA represents over 5,200 national, regional and local newspaper titles, published in 23 EU Member States, plus Norway, Switzerland and Serbia. More than 150 million newspapers are sold and read by over 300 million Europeans every day, in addition to millions of readers of newspapers in digital formats.