The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association welcomes the transition of the National Book Council from the Ministry for Education to the Ministry for Arts, Culture and National Heritage. 

MEIA considers this a positive and long-awaited step forward for the literature, publishing and wider creative sectors. We have consistently advocated for the book sector to be recognised as a core part of Malta’s cultural and creative ecosystem, and this move reflects an important shift in that direction.

At the same time, MEIA stresses that such a transition must be handled with care, transparency and proper consultation. The National Book Council plays a vital role in supporting writers, publishers, translators, editors, illustrators, booksellers, educators and readers. Any structural change must therefore strengthen its independence, resources, sectoral reach and long-term vision.

MEIA calls for an open consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, including authors, publishers, literary organisations and cultural practitioners, to ensure that the transition is not only administrative, but genuinely beneficial to the sector.

This is an opportunity to place literature where it belongs: at the heart of Malta’s cultural policy.