European Commission allocates €20.5 million for journalism and press freedom

The European Commission has announced the allocation of €20.5 million to support journalism and media organizations across Europe. The funding is structured into three distinct programs designed to strengthen media pluralism and combat disinformation.

One program, totaling €14 million, aims to finance journalism partnerships by promoting collaboration between media outlets and local or public interest media. This includes support for organizations that distribute funds to media entities in areas critical to democracy, as well as fostering cross-border collaborations focused on innovative business models and journalistic projects.

A second program, with €3.5 million, is dedicated to enhancing media literacy among citizens. This initiative seeks to help individuals navigate the information landscape more securely and build societal resilience against manipulation and disinformation.

The final €3 million will be used to strengthen an independent rapid response mechanism at the European level. This mechanism is intended to monitor violations of press freedom and media independence within the European Union and candidate countries.