Europe loves reading

"We need to help more children start reading for pleasure and to re-ignite the pleasure of reading among adolescents, young people and adults. Reading for the sake of reading should gain a bigger place in our daily life, in schools and outside it, on a bus or on a train, whether it's from a book, a magazine, a computer or mobile screen." - Androulla Vassiliou

Reading is the gateway to all other learning, to active participation in society and the economy.

As we move towards a knowledge economy, it will become an even more crucial skill, as information technologies play an increasingly important role in our professional, social and democratic lives.

However, one in five 15 year olds in the European Union cannot read properly. Many adults manage to hide their reading difficulties, but find it increasingly difficult to cope without basic skills.

This is why I am launching the campaign "Europe loves reading". A series of reading events across Europe, involving children, adolescents and adults will promote the joy of reading and raise public awareness on the issue of literacy. The events will have a multilingual dimension, encouraging reading aloud in several languages, to diverse audiences.

Reading event: European School III ,Brussels
Reading event at William Davies Primary School, London
Reading event in The Hague, The Netherlands
Launch of the Literacy Campaign in Budapest, Hungary
Reading event in Florence, Italy

Articles on literacy and new programmes

Commission en Direct, issue 603, 19.07.2011: Clear Writing - "It's everybody’s business"

Past Events

7 October 2011 - Reading event in London, United Kingdom
6 September 2011 - Reading event in The Hague, The Netherlands
23 May 2011 - Reading event at a primary school in Nicosia, Cyprus
8 May - Reading event in Florence, Italy
25 March 2011 - Reading session with Roma children in Pécs, Hungary
21 February 2011 - Launch of the literacy campaign and reading session with Roma children in Pécs, Budapest