EU boosts support for independent media in Ukraine with extra €10 million

The European Union has announced an increase in its support for independent media in Ukraine, with a new €10 million funding package. 

This new funding builds on more than €100 million that the European Union has already invested in independent media in Ukraine since 2017. Since the full scale invasion, the EU has supported independent media with around €37 million in grants, and supported the establishment of a centre in Przemyśl, Poland, to serve as a workspace for media evacuated from Ukraine that were able to get news about the Russian aggression to the world. 

As part of the new package, the EU will provide €10 million for independent media to ensure their sustainability. The initiative will provide grants to a range of media organisations that will in turn support individual independent journalists and media outlets through sub-grants:

• €3 million for Internews Europe to support media in war-affected regions and promote investigative journalism. 
• €2 million to Reporters Without Borders, funding protection measures for at-risk journalists and supporting small media outlets.
• €1 million to the Institute for Mass Information for small and medium-sized media outlets. 
• A further €1 million will be allocated to smaller-scale projects, such as the Black Sea Foundation and the Docudays festival.

An additional €3 million will be allocated through a new call for applications in May 2025. It will focus on strengthening local and regional media outlets and supporting investigative journalism in Ukraine.

“Russia’s aggression extends beyond the battlefield. Russia uses massive disinformation to undermine unity and reduce international support,” said Katarína Mathernová, EU Ambassador to Ukraine. “A strong independent media in Ukraine is more crucial than ever, and EU funding will help sustain it.” 

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Press release