Funding programme

The European Union’s Multimedia Actions therefore aim to engage the public in EU policy-making by informing them about European issues from pan-European points of view, going beyond local or national angles. Activities under this budget line support producing and disseminating independent news and programmes on EU affairs with full editorial independence.

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Call overview

The aim of the call is to to set up European media platforms projects which will improve EU citizens’ access to trusted information across the European Union.

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Call details

This action aims to set up and/or develop European media platforms. News media organisations are invited to propose projects crafting user-friendly and innovative features and applications. These projects should help news media organisations increase their reach and improve citizens’ access to multilingual and trusted information in as many EU Member States and EU languages as possible. As a result, the call would contribute to developing a EU-wide media public sphere.

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Activities to be funded

The following types of activities are eligible under this call for proposals:

• creation, maintenance and enhancement of European media platforms, websites, tools and delivery systems
• content handling (mainly journalistic content) across Europe feeding the said platforms, including production, curation, translation, etc
• coordination tasks, governance, management, technical and editorial workflows, staff, resources.
• advertising, promotion, awareness and dissemination activities
• data studies and research directly related to the editorial needs, technical components and audience measurements
• costs linked to technical transmission, distribution and dissemination.

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Eligibility

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities (public or private bodies) and be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:

• EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
• non-EU countries as mentioned in the work programme: candidate countries or potential candidate countries

The coordinator must be established in an EU Member State. Proposals may be submitted by any of the following applicants or combinations of:

- news media organisations

- Media technology developers

- Other organisations active in media (private or public)

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Consortium composition

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; affiliated entities and other participants are allowed if needed but affiliated entities do not count for the minimum number of applicants).

Associated partners, if any, are considered third parties. They are not applicants, not part of the consortium and hence do not count for the minimum number of applicants.

(Please be reminded that, apart from the rule above establishing the minimum consortium composition, for the purpose of this call the content must be editorially handled and delivered in as many EU member states as possible and be available in at least 5 EU languages).

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Duration

The indicative duration of these projects is 12-15 months.

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Budget

The Commission expects to fund approximately 3 projects. The maximum grant amount per project is set at EUR 2,5 Mio, but this does not preclude the submission/selection of proposals requesting lower amounts. The Commission reserves the right not to award all available funds depending on the proposals received and the results of the evaluation. The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested. Applicants are reminded that budget-cost effectiveness of the proposal is part of the award criteria.