Skip to main content
Shaping Europe’s digital future
Call for proposals | Publication

A European public sphere: a new online media offer for young Europeans

For the third year in a row, the European Commission will support the production of daily, thought-provoking and trustworthy content on current affairs from across Europe for and by young Europeans.

Young girl checking the news on her phone.

© GaudiLab - iStock GettyImages

Following two pilot projects in 2020 and 2021, this Call for Proposals implements the European Parliament Preparatory Action "A European public sphere: a new online media offer for young Europeans". This year, the call has a significantly higher budget of €9million, providing an opportunity for larger projects of longer duration (approximately 18 months) with increased EU co-financing of up to 80%.

The call seeks to bring the EU closer to young people, encourage them to become active citizens and connect them across borders. In doing so, it also contributes to the European Year of Youth 2022. The objective of this action is to increase the availability of online information, in different languages, around European topics that affect young people across the EU, presented in engaging formats and through multiple viewpoints. Projects should seek to generate engaging discussions and organise youth events. The grant agreements will include a charter of independence to make sure that grantees are editorially-free and operate without any political interference.

Projects should start around March/April 2023 for an indicative duration of 18 months.

The Commission expects to fund 3 or 4 proposals, with a maximum grant set at €3.5million. The maximum rate of co-financing is 80% of eligible costs, applicants may propose a lower co-funding rate.

Expected results

  • Collaboration between at least five organisations from five EU Member States;
  • Creation of daily, thought-provoking content around current affairs, through innovative cross-border editorial processes;
  • An outreach plan, to reach as many young Europeans as possible;
  • Distribution via own channels, partner websites, blogs and/or social media networks;
  • Engaging discussions and youth events.

Further information

  • The call for proposals, application forms and all relevant documents are available below.
  • Questions can be sent to CNECT-NEWSMEDIA@ec.europa.eu until at the latest 19 October 2022. All questions and answers will be published, anonymously, on this page.
  • For an overview of other grant opportunities for news media, see updates on this page.
  • You can subscribe to receive automatic updates whenever articles related to media are publish on CNECT’s website.
  • Discover 2021 projects here.

 

(If reading in another language, consult the English original for call documents.)

Downloads

00. Questions and answers - 20 October (.pdf)
Download 
01. Call for Proposals (.pdf)
Download 
02. Grant Application Form (Part A) (.docx)
Download 
03. Grant Application Form (Part B) (.docx)
Download 
04. Estimated Budget (Annex 2 MGA) (.xlsx)
Download 
05. Financial-capacity check table (.xls)
Download 
06. Declaration of Honour (.pdf)
Download 
07. Declaration on Standards and Independence (.docx)
Download 
08. Financial Identification (.pdf)
Download 
09. Legal Entity Private (.pdf)
Download 
10. Legal Entity Public (.pdf)
Download 
11. Model Grant Agreement (MGA) (.pdf)
Download 
12. Unit costs and SME owners (annex 2a MGA) (.pdf)
Download 
13. Specific Rules (annex 5 MGA) (.pdf)
Download 
14. Privacy Statement (.pdf)
Download 

Related content

EU support to the news media sector

Factsheet / infographic | 07 March 2022

The Commission aims to support projects that address structural challenges of the media sectors and/or that promote a free, diverse and pluralistic media environment. Examples include supporting collaborative and cross-border journalism, monitoring risks to media pluralism, mapping violations of media freedom, defending journalists under threat, media innovation, supporting media literacy and strengthening the European public sphere.

Webinar: EU grants for news media

Event | 07 July 2022

The European Commission (DG Connect) and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) are organising a webinar for the news media industry and stakeholders to explain the different funding opportunities that the EU offers to the sector.