diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a0713411a..cfc589fbd 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,14 @@
+## -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
+import os
+import sys
 from setuptools import setup
+from codecs import open # To open the README file with proper encoding
+
+
+# Get information from separate files (README, VERSION)
+def readfile(filename):
+    with open(filename,  encoding='utf-8') as f:
+        return f.read()
 
 setup(
     packages = ['cutgeneratingfunctionology', 'cutgeneratingfunctionology.igp', 'cutgeneratingfunctionology.multirow', 'cutgeneratingfunctionology.dff', 'cutgeneratingfunctionology.spam', 'cutgeneratingfunctionology.igp.subadditivity_slack_diagrams', 'cutgeneratingfunctionology.igp.procedures'],