Circulation of European literary works

The Circulation of European literary works CREA-CULT-2027-LIT funds projects that translate, publish, distribute and promote European literary works across national and linguistic borders under the Creative Europe Culture strand, managed by EACEA. The indicative call budget is €5 million; the planned opening date is 21 October 2026 and the submission deadline is 27 January 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time, with a maximum EU co‑funding rate of 60% and ceilings up to €200,000 for individual applicants and €300,000 for consortia (size-based ceilings: €100,000/€200,000/€300,000). Eligible applicants are legal entities established in Creative Europe participating countries active in the publishing and book sector; projects must include at least five European literary works, use professional human translators (machine translation excluded) and present coherent work packages covering translation, publication, distribution and promotion.

What it funds

Grants to projects that translate, publish, distribute and promote European literary works (novels, short stories, theatre and radio plays, poetry, literary reportage, comics, children and youth literature). Activities should form a coherent publishing strategy with distribution and promotion; support for translators (human only) is required and machine translation is excluded.

Who can apply

Legal entities (public or private) established in Creative Europe participating countries (EU Member States including OCTs, listed EEA countries and countries associated to Creative Europe). Projects may be submitted by a single beneficiary or by a consortium. Applicants must be active in the publishing/book sector and enter required information about works and translators in the Creative Europe Database.

Key priorities and rules

Priority to increasing transnational circulation and linguistic diversity (including less-translated languages), promoting reading and discoverability, supporting translators with fair remuneration and visibility (recommended 20–30% of budget for translators for novels), and encouraging cooperation across the book value chain. Special encouragement for activities supporting Ukrainian-language books and translations involving Ukraine.

Practicals and deadlines

Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the templates and annexes required (including Creative Europe Database entries and Declaration on Publications). Proposals will be evaluated against relevance, quality, management and dissemination; thresholds and scoring apply.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document and topic details: Circulation of European literary works CREA-CULT-2027-LIT on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Call page.

Call summary and purpose

This is a Creative Europe call for proposals titled Circulation of European literary works (call identifier CREA-CULT-2027-LIT). The action will support projects that translate, publish, distribute and promote European literary works (novels, short stories, theatre and radio plays, poetry, literary reportage, comic books, children and youth literature and similar). The call uses the CREA Lump Sum Grants model under the Creative Europe Programme and is managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The call is single-stage, mono-beneficiary or multi-beneficiary (consortium) is allowed, and the planned opening date is 21 October 2026 with a deadline of 27 January 2027 17:00 CET. The indicative budget for this topic is €5,000,000 and the action is expected to support around 40 projects.

Eligibility and applicants

Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in an eligible country participating in Creative Europe (EU Member States including OCTs, EEA countries participating, and countries associated to Creative Europe). Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed persons where applicable. International organisations may participate. Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if their representatives can legally commit them. Applicants must be active in the publishing and book sector. Each project must include at least five European literary works to be translated, published, distributed and promoted. Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC) and validated.

What the call funds: scope and priorities

This action funds translation, publication, distribution and promotion activities for European literary works and activities that strengthen cooperation across the book-publishing value chain (publishers, translators, booksellers, distributors, libraries, festivals and authors). Projects should group activities into coherent work packages (Part B of the application) with activities, deliverables, milestones and risk analysis. The call strongly promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and prioritises translations from or into less-translated languages and measures that increase discoverability of supported works.

Recommended budget and translator remuneration guidance

The call recommends that, for the novel genre, between 20% and 30% of the total project budget be allocated to translators’ remuneration to support fair working conditions and recognition. Publishers should ensure translator credit is visible, preferably on the book cover, and that the source language is mentioned. Machine translation is excluded and contracts with professional human translators are mandatory; translator CVs are required as annexes and must be included in the Creative Europe Database records for the proposed translations.

Grant form, funding rate and award ceilings

The grant is awarded as a lump sum grant (CREA Lump Sum Grants). The funding rate is set at 60% of eligible costs. Applicants choose project category: category 1 individual applicant (mono-beneficiary) or category 2 consortium (minimum two beneficiaries). Maximum grants: individual applicant up to €200,000; consortium up to €300,000. Project size ceilings: small scale (at least 5 literary works) up to €100,000; medium scale (at least 11 works) up to €200,000; large scale (at least 21 works) up to €300,000 (large scale reserved for consortiums). Total indicative topic budget: €5,000,000.

Project duration, deliverables and work package structure

Recommended project duration should normally not exceed 36 months. Each application must present the activity plan grouped into work packages; each work package must include activities, deliverables, milestones and critical risks. Mandatory WPs and examples of deliverables: WP1 Project management (coordination, quality control, minutes, evaluation indicators); WP2 Translation (deliverables include final translated texts, translator contracts, translator declarations, proofs of payment, translator biographies); WP3 Publication and Distribution (final declaration on publications, list of published titles, digital files, metadata); WP4 Promotion and Communication (communication/dissemination strategy, promotion reports for each book and campaign evidence); WP5 Support to Ukrainian literary works (reprints in Ukrainian, where applicable).

Evaluation and award criteria

Single-stage submission. Eligibility and admissibility checks are followed by evaluation by experts and an evaluation committee. Proposals are scored against four award criteria with individual thresholds. Maximum total score 100; overall pass threshold 70 and individual minimum thresholds per criterion. The action is expected to support around 40 projects within the available budget.

Admissibility, submission and templates

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System before the published deadline. Part A is filled online; Part B (technical description) must be uploaded as PDF and is limited to maximum 70 pages. Mandatory annexes include the detailed budget table/calculator (for lump sum calculation), declaration on publications (signed by participants), CVs (standard) of core project team and translators, list of previous projects, Creative Dossier (presentation of books), and the mandatory Creative Europe Database overview of translations (Overview of translations PDF exported and uploaded as the mandatory annex). The Portal contains the specific application templates. Applicants must ensure legal entity validation and may be subject to financial capacity checks during grant preparation.

Financial management, reporting and payments

The grant will be a lump sum (financing not linked to costs) fixed on the basis of the estimated project budget and a funding rate of 60%. The lump sum must be calculated using the detailed budget table/calculator provided. Reporting and deliverables are managed through the Portal Grant Management System. In general a prefinancing will be paid after grant signing (typically 30 days from entry into force/receipt of financial guarantee). There will be no interim payments; the balance will be calculated at the end of the project and payment of the balance or recovery will follow in accordance with the Grant Agreement. Certificates (CFS) may be required depending on thresholds and beneficiary type.

Eligibility of costs and restrictions

Form of consortium and affiliated entities

Both mono-beneficiary (single applicant) and multi-beneficiary consortia are eligible. A consortium must include at least two beneficiaries (unless mono-beneficiary application). Affiliated entities (linked legal entities) may participate and charge costs under the same conditions as beneficiaries; affiliated entities must be included in Annexes and the Participant Register. Associated partners may participate without receiving EU funds; subcontractors and third parties giving in-kind contributions may be used where appropriate. Consortium agreements are recommended and, in many cases, required by the call documentation.

Selection and success factors

Structured answers to requested categorisation questions

Below are the extracted and structured answers to the categorisation questions, reflecting the full call details.

Administrative and practical guidance

How to present a competitive application

Applications should clearly demonstrate editorial strategy, the selection and quality of works, the translation plan and high-quality translators (with CVs and signed confirmations), a realistic timetable and deliverables per work package, an effective distribution plan to increase discoverability and circulation (including metadata and digital formats where relevant), promotion campaigns to reach audiences across borders, fair remuneration and visibility for translators, cooperation with booksellers and libraries, and realistic lump sum calculations using the detailed budget table. Include risk analysis, quality assurance, measurable indicators and sustainability of impact beyond project end.

Footnotes

1. 1See the Creative Europe list of participating countries for the Culture strand for the detailed list of eligible non-EU participating countries and the conditions that apply: ec.europa.eu

Funding opportunity overview

The Circulation of European literary works call supports projects that translate, publish, distribute and promote European literature across national and linguistic borders. The call is implemented under the Culture strand of the Creative Europe Programme and is managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. The official opportunity is available at Funding and Tenders Portal call page.

The action is expected to support approximately 40 projects. Projects may be submitted by one eligible organisation or by a consortium of at least two eligible organisations.

Key facts

Programme

Creative Europe Programme, Culture strand, 2021 to 2027.

Call identifier

CREA-CULT-2027-LIT.

Action type

Creative Europe lump sum grant under the CREA-AG-LS grant agreement model.

Application procedure

Single stage, with one submission and one evaluation step.

Planned opening date

21 October 2026.

Submission deadline

27 January 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time. The electronic submission system closes at the deadline and late applications are not accepted.

Total indicative call budget

€5 million, subject to final adoption of the 2027 EU budget. The granting authority may decide not to use the full amount or may redistribute funding depending on the proposals received and evaluation results.

Expected number of funded projects

Approximately 40 projects. This is an indicative expectation and does not establish an entitlement to funding or a fixed grant amount.

Indicative timetable

The call is planned for publication on 7 October 2026, with applications opening on 21 October 2026. Evaluation is expected to take place from February to May 2027, information on evaluation results is expected in July 2027, and grant agreements are expected to be signed in October 2027.

What the funding supports

Eligible projects must focus on the translation, publication, distribution and promotion of European literary works. Activities should form part of a credible publishing strategy and an effective distribution plan.

Eligible literary formats include novels, short stories, theatre plays, radio plays, poetry, literary reportage, comic books, graphic novels, children’s literature and youth literature.

Projects may also support collaboration between authors, literary translators, publishers, distributors, booksellers, libraries, literary events and festivals. Activities should be organised into coherent work packages with defined activities, deliverables, milestones and critical risks.

European literary works are works written by authors who are nationals or residents of an eligible Creative Europe country, or who are recognised as belonging to the European literary heritage. Works written in Latin and ancient Greek are covered by the publication declaration exception concerning author eligibility.

Specific policy priorities

Applicants should demonstrate a clear contribution to the EU overarching priorities and to the specific priorities of the call.

Priority areas include the following:

Translator requirements

Machine translation is excluded. Publishers must contract professional human literary translators and provide information about the selected translators in the Creative Europe Database.

For projects involving novels, the call recommends allocating between 20 and 30 percent of the total project budget to translator remuneration. This percentage recommendation applies to the novel literary genre and is not stated as a universal mandatory percentage for every format.

Translators should be given visible credit in the published book, preferably on the cover, and the source language should be clearly identified. Applicants should follow relevant national standards and good practice guidance on fair translation contracts.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants must be legal entities, whether public or private, established in an eligible Creative Europe country and active in the publishing and book sector.

Eligible applicants include publishers and other organisations whose principal or demonstrated activities are relevant to publishing, books and literary circulation. Applicants must register in the Funding and Tenders Portal Participant Register before submitting the application and must obtain or use a validated participant identification code.

Natural persons are not eligible, except self-employed persons or sole traders where the business does not have legal personality separate from the individual. International organisations are eligible and are not subject to the eligible country requirement. Certain entities without separate legal personality may participate if they can undertake legal obligations and provide equivalent protection for EU financial interests.

EU bodies cannot participate, except for the European Commission Joint Research Centre where applicable under the general rules. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or applicable EU conditionality measures cannot participate in any funded or supporting role.

Consortium requirements

A consortium must contain at least two eligible organisations acting as beneficiaries. Affiliated entities do not count towards the minimum consortium requirement.

Single applicant projects are permitted. In a single applicant project, the applicant is also the coordinator. In a consortium, one beneficiary must act as coordinator and represent the consortium towards the granting authority.

Associated partners may participate without receiving grant funding and without counting as beneficiaries. Subcontractors may be used for limited parts of the work, but subcontracting must comply with value for money and conflict of interest requirements. Subcontracting exceeding 30 percent of total eligible costs must be justified.

Eligible countries

Eligible countries comprise EU Member States, including overseas countries and territories, listed EEA countries and countries associated with the Creative Europe Programme for the Culture strand.

The participating non EU countries identified in the available programme list include Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia for the Culture strand, Kosovo for the Culture strand, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova for the Culture strand, Armenia for the Culture strand and Tunisia for the Culture strand. Participation conditions can vary by country and strand, so the current official participating country list must be checked before submission.

Applicants should also verify that no participant is affected by EU sanctions, exclusion decisions or conditionality measures. The official participating country document is available at Creative Europe participating country list.

Minimum literary works requirement

Each project must include at least five European literary works to be translated, published, distributed and promoted. The works proposed should generally have been previously published and should not already have been translated into the target language, unless a clearly assessed need justifies a new translation.

The target language should normally be the translator’s mother tongue. An exception may be accepted for lesser-used languages where the publisher provides sufficient justification.

Applicants must confirm that translation rights will be obtained, that the proposed translators have agreed to work under the proposed conditions and that the works and translations meet the publication declaration requirements.

Funding levels and co financing

The grant is calculated as a lump sum based on the estimated project budget and a maximum EU co funding rate of 60 percent. Applicants must therefore provide the remaining financing through own resources, income generated by the action or other eligible financial contributions.

The applicable grant ceiling depends on the applicant category and the scale of the project.

The overall maximum grant is €200,000 for an individual applicant and €300,000 for a consortium. The large scale ceiling of €300,000 is available only to a consortium of at least two eligible organisations.

The €5 million call budget and the approximately 40 expected projects should not be interpreted as a guaranteed average award. Actual grants will depend on the proposed scale, eligible estimated costs, ranking and available budget.

Lump sum funding model

The grant is a lump sum. The final lump sum is fixed in the grant agreement on the basis of the estimated project budget and the applicable 60 percent funding rate. Payment is linked to the completion and acceptance of the agreed work rather than reimbursement of each actual cost item.

Although the grant is a lump sum, the estimated budget must comply with the basic eligibility rules applicable to actual cost grants. Ineligible, excessive or insufficiently justified budget items can lead to a reduced grant, including during or after project implementation.

Costs related to translation rights and publication rights are not eligible. Purchases and subcontracting must represent best value for money, or the lowest price where appropriate, and must be free from conflicts of interest.

Project duration and implementation

Projects should normally not exceed 36 months. An extension may be possible through an amendment where duly justified.

The project normally starts after grant signature. A retroactive start may exceptionally be authorised for duly justified reasons, but it cannot be earlier than the proposal submission date.

Mandatory work packages and deliverables

The application should normally include the following mandatory work packages:

Application documents and formal requirements

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Funding and Tenders Portal. Paper applications are not accepted.

The application consists of the following main components:

Part B is limited to a maximum of 70 pages. Evaluators will disregard additional pages. The application should be readable, accessible and printable, and documents must be uploaded in the correct sections of the submission system.

The declaration on publications confirms, among other matters, the eligibility of the authors and works, publication status, translation status, translator agreement, acquisition of rights and compliance with the target language requirements.

Evaluation and award criteria

Eligible proposals are assessed by an evaluation committee assisted by independent experts. The evaluation follows a one stage submission and one step evaluation procedure.

A proposal must meet every individual threshold and the overall threshold of 70 points. Passing the thresholds does not guarantee funding because proposals are ranked and funded within the available budget.

Relevance assesses alignment with the call objectives, specific priorities and EU overarching priorities, the quality of the needs analysis, complementarity with other activities, innovation and European added value.

Quality of content and activities assesses the editorial concept and methodology, benefits for target groups, coherence and feasibility of the project design, and the ability of the distribution strategy to provide access to the translated works.

Project management assesses coordination, management arrangements, cost effectiveness, allocation of resources, fair translator remuneration and the qualifications and resources of the project team.

Dissemination assesses the potential to reach new audiences, use good practice and innovation, communicate EU support, achieve impact beyond the participating organisations and sustain results after the project ends.

Financial and operational capacity

Applicants must have stable and sufficient financial resources to implement the project and contribute their share of the budget. The coordinator will normally undergo a financial capacity assessment unless an applicable exemption applies, such as being a public body, international organisation, an eligible cultural or creative sector entity receiving more than 50 percent of annual revenue from public sources, or a project requesting no more than €60,000.

The financial capacity assessment may require financial statements, profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, business plans or audit documentation. Where capacity is insufficient, the granting authority may request additional information, instalment based prefinancing, a prefinancing guarantee, replacement of a participant or rejection of the proposal.

Operational capacity is assessed through the experience and qualifications of the project team, participant profiles, available operational resources and the list of relevant projects completed during the previous four years. Public bodies, Member State organisations, international organisations and qualifying publicly funded cultural and creative sector entities are exempt from the operational capacity check.

Payment and reporting arrangements

A prefinancing payment of normally 80 percent of the maximum grant may be made after the grant agreement enters into force, although the amount may be lower or no prefinancing may be provided. Payment is normally made within 30 days from entry into force or receipt of any required financial guarantee, whichever is later.

There are no interim payments. The balance is calculated at the end of the project after assessment of the completed work and deliverables. If previous payments exceed the final grant amount, the difference may be recovered.

Payments are made to the coordinator. Beneficiaries must keep records of the work performed and provide the evidence and deliverables required by the grant agreement. A prefinancing guarantee may be required, normally from the coordinator, and is generally equal to or lower than the prefinancing amount.

Strategic assessment for applicants

This call is most suitable for established publishers or publishing sector organisations with a strong catalogue, professional translation capacity, cross border distribution channels and demonstrable access to readers in multiple markets.

The strongest proposals are likely to combine a carefully justified selection of works with a credible multi country publishing and distribution strategy. Merely listing titles or translations without demonstrating demand, audience access, rights availability, editorial quality and sales or dissemination routes would create a weak application.

Applicants should treat less translated languages, translator visibility, fair remuneration, discoverability, cooperation across the book value chain, inclusion, gender equality, digital access and environmentally responsible implementation as integrated project design issues rather than as isolated statements of intent.

A consortium can provide a stronger European value proposition where partners contribute complementary publishing markets, translation expertise, distribution networks, bookselling relationships, library access or audience development capacity. However, a consortium also requires clear governance, a balanced division of work and a consortium agreement.

Key compliance risks

Recommended preparation plan

Overall conclusion

CREA-CULT-2027-LIT offers substantial support for professional literary circulation projects, with grants of up to €100,000 for small scale projects, €200,000 for medium scale projects or individual applicant projects, and €300,000 for large scale consortium projects. Its core requirements are a minimum of five eligible works, professional human translation, a credible cross border publishing and distribution strategy, strong promotion, compliant work packages and a balanced budget with at least 40 percent non EU financing.

The opportunity is particularly attractive to publishers and publishing networks able to demonstrate European added value through less translated languages, cooperation across the book value chain, translator support, Ukrainian book circulation where relevant and measurable audience reach. Applicants should rely on the final call document and portal forms available when the submission system opens, because the call remains subject to the final adoption of the 2027 EU budget and any subsequent official updates.