Creative Europe Journalism Partnerships - Pluralism 2027: EU regranting for local and independent media
Verified by the editorial team 28 October 2026
Added to the catalogue Added to the catalogue from the 21 October GetGrant export, terms verified against the call document and the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page
Summary
Up to EUR 2.5 million per project (90% of eligible costs) for organisations that run sub-granting schemes for local, regional, community and investigative media; at least 60% of the grant goes to regranting. A single organisation or a consortium can apply, and Ukraine participates in the programme. Deadline - 4 February 2027.
About the call
The CREA-CROSS-2027-JOURPART-PLURALISM topic supports media sectors of special relevance to democracy: local and regional media, independent and investigative journalism, community media and outlets delivering public interest news. The key condition is that the applicant sets up and runs a cascading grant (regranting) scheme for such newsrooms and organisations and dedicates at least 60% of the budget to it.
Sub-grants should help media renew editorial formats and revenue models, improve news distribution, develop audiences and communities, build technical tools and train staff. The scheme can be complemented with accompanying activities: governance and deontological standards, legal advice, training and knowledge repositories. Sub-grant calls must stay open for at least two months and have a clear European dimension; all participants sign a Declaration on Standards and Independence.
The topic focuses on the EU: activities must take place in at least 4 Member States, targeting news deserts and markets where pluralism is strained. Ukraine is a Creative Europe participating country, so Ukrainian media NGOs or journalism support funds can apply alone or in a consortium, but the project must also cover EU countries. Non-profit and civil society organisations are explicitly encouraged; projects last up to 24 months.
Who can apply
- Organisations active in the news media sector from EU Member States and Creative Europe participating countries, including Ukraine
- A single organisation or a consortium of at least two applicants
- Media associations, NGOs, non-profit and civil society organisations, journalism funds, foundations
- Public authorities, international organisations, universities, research centres, training organisations for media professionals, profit-making entities
Who cannot apply
- Natural persons (except sole traders without separate legal personality)
- Entities subject to EU restrictive measures
What the funds are for
- Sub-granting schemes for local, regional and community media (at least 60% of the grant)
- Support for independent and investigative journalism
- Innovation in editorial formats, coverage and revenue models
- Audience development, news distribution and technical tools
- Accompanying training, legal advice and governance standards
What is not funded
- Projects without a regranting scheme
- Projects covering fewer than 4 EU Member States
Documents required
Forms and templates are on the call page
- Administrative form Part A (filled in online in the Submission System)
- Technical description Part B using the Submission System template - up to 50 pages, including the regranting scheme
- Part C with project data and indicators (online)
- Declaration on Standards and Independence from the coordinator and all partners
How to apply
- 1Create an EU Login and register the organisation (and partners, if any) in the Participant Register (get a PIC)
- 2Design a sub-granting scheme worth at least 60% of the budget, with criteria, amounts and open calls of at least two months
- 3Fill in Part A and Part C online and upload Part B and the Declaration on Standards and Independence
- 4Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 4 February 2027, 17:00 Brussels time
Timeline
Questions and answers
- Is a consortium required for Journalism Partnerships - Pluralism?
- No. A single organisation or a consortium of at least two applicants can apply, but activities must cover at least 4 EU Member States.
- What share of the Pluralism grant must go to sub-grants?
- At least 60% of the total grant must fund schemes for news media and independent journalism; the rest can cover accompanying activities.
Change history
- Added: Added to the catalogue from the 21 October GetGrant export, terms verified against the call document and the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page
Donor contacts
Email: EACEA-CREATIVE-EUROPE-JOURNALISM-PARTNERSHIPS@ec.europa.eu
Website: www.eacea.ec.europa.eu
