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These projects are aligned with the objectives of the Commission’s European Democracy Action Plan and the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan, presented in December 2020.
As part of the latter, the Commission launched the ‘News Initiative’, bundling existing and new actions to support the news media sector.
This initiative looks holistically at the challenges facing the news media industry and provides a coherent response, bringing together different policy and funding programmes/instruments under a common banner.
As part of these efforts, the new Multiannual Financial Framework for the first time has a dedicated envelope for media pluralism, journalism and media literacy of at least €75 million under Creative Europe.
1. Media freedom and pluralism calls
Media freedom and pluralism are essential principles enshrined by the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Commission has been providing support to these principles through a wide range of pilots and preparatory actions. In the period 2021-2027, actions that monitor and assess risks to media pluralism and freedom are supported through the Creative Europe programme.
2. Collaboration and innovation calls
The Commission aims to support the transformation and competitiveness of the news media sector. Grants include support to foster cross-border collaboration across news media, through grants under Creative Europe. These grants aim to stimulate the testing of viable business models, developing business and editorial standards and training and mobility of professionals. Support to innovative applications for media is offered through Horizon Europe.
3. Citizen engagement and public sphere calls
The Commission wants to stimulate a lively and diverse public sphere, in which citizens have access to reliable information about the EU. Support for independent production and dissemination of news content on EU affairs is available through the Multimedia Actions. In addition, the Commission supports the development of innovative and attractive projects to engage with citizens, as well as media literacy.
Recently opened calls to support the news media sector
The European Commission has launched a call for proposals for innovation actions in the media sector, to stimulate interdisciplinary cooperation and build prototypes of advanced solutions for the creation, distribution and consumption of new immersive and innovative products for media.
The call for proposals for Journalism Partnerships aims to help the wider European news media sector become more sustainable and resilient, thus contributing to trustworthy reporting on current affairs, to an informed and inclusive democratic debate, to skills development and employment for news media professionals and journalists.
The Commission is launching a 5,98 M € call for proposals to set up European media platforms projects, aiming to improve Union citizens’ access to trusted information across the Union. Projects should stimulate ways to develop technical systems to enhance and expand a quality news content and/or programming offer based on high quality standards and European rights and values. Platforms should allow content to be available in multiple European languages.
The European Commission is launching a Call for proposals for the Preparatory Action “Media Councils in the digital age”.
Building on the results of the two editions of the Pilot Project “Media Councils in the digital age”, the objective of this Preparatory Action is to further support the activities of the media self-regulation bodies and to promote the importance of the journalistic standards in the modern media environment.
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Big Picture
The Media and Audiovisual Action Plan (MAAP) aims to boost European media and help maintain European cultural and technological autonomy in the Digital Decade.
Dig deeper
A free, viable and pluralistic media environment is key to keeping citizens informed, holding power to account, and strengthening open, democratic societies.
The Commission wants to stimulate a lively and diverse public sphere, in which citizens have access to reliable information about the EU.
The Commission aims to support the transformation and competitiveness of the news media sector.
Media freedom and pluralism are essential principles enshrined by the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Commission has been providing support to these principles through a wide range of pilots and preparatory actions.