The Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions Programme launched by the DG CNECT of the European Commission aims at ensuring quality news media and quality journalism as an essential component of the functioning of a democratic society.

A total of 2.2 million euro will be attributed to three separate calls for pilot projects in regard to media freedom and pluralism. The first pilot project, “Exchange of media rising stars” has a budget of 1.2 million euro. The second and third pilot projects, “Internship opportunities for minority language media” and “Media councils in the digital age”, will benefit 500,000 euro each.   

Since 2013, the European Commission co-funds projects to promote media freedom and pluralism and to defend journalists under threat.