Creative Europe NEWS - Media Freedom Rapid Response Mechanism 2027: a mechanism to protect journalists
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
EUR 3 million (90% of eligible costs) for a Europe-wide rapid response mechanism protecting journalists: legal and practical assistance, monitoring of media freedom violations and advocacy missions. Applicants are consortia of at least two non-profit organisations, universities or research centres from two programme countries, Ukraine included. Deadline - 27 January 2027.
About the call
The CREA-CROSS-2027-MFP topic funds the design and running of a rapid response mechanism for threats to media freedom covering all EU Member States, Creative Europe participating countries and candidate countries. It covers legal and practical assistance to journalists under threat, including advice, legal support, shelter and logistics, as well as safety and cybersecurity training.
The project must also systematically monitor press freedom violations, publish alerts on a dedicated website and regular reports, organise advocacy missions to countries where journalists are threatened, and run awareness campaigns. Financial support to third parties is allowed: direct support to journalists facing threats for security or legal expenses and ad hoc support to NGOs working on media freedom. The whole topic budget is EUR 3 million and the call document sets no per-project ceiling.
The call targets experienced human rights and media organisations able to run a large Europe-wide project of up to 24 months. Ukraine is a programme participating country and an EU candidate, so Ukrainian NGOs can be partners or coordinators, and Ukrainian journalists can benefit from the mechanism's support.
Who can apply
- Non-profit organisations (public or private), universities, educational and research institutions from EU Member States and Creative Europe participating countries, including Ukraine
- A consortium of at least two independent organisations from two different participating countries
- International organisations
Who cannot apply
- Natural persons
- Entities subject to EU restrictive measures
What the funds are for
- A Europe-wide rapid response mechanism for threats to journalists
- Legal and practical support to journalists and media practitioners in need
- Advocacy missions to countries where journalists are under threat
- Monitoring of media freedom violations with alerts and reports
- Safety and cybersecurity training and awareness campaigns
- Financial support to journalists under threat and media freedom NGOs
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
- Part C with project data and indicators (online)
- Description of the financial support to third parties scheme: activity types, recipients, criteria, maximum amounts
How to apply
- 1Create an EU Login and register each consortium member in the Participant Register (get a PIC)
- 2Build a consortium of at least two organisations from two participating countries
- 3Fill in Part A and Part C online and upload Part B in the Submission System on the topic page
- 4Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 27 January 2027, 17:00 Brussels time
Timeline
Questions and answers
- Who can apply to the Media Freedom Rapid Response Mechanism?
- A consortium of at least two non-profit organisations, universities, educational or research institutions or international organisations from two different Creative Europe participating countries, Ukraine included.
- Can the grant be used to give money to journalists?
- Yes. Financial support to third parties is allowed: direct support to journalists facing threats for security or legal expenses and ad hoc support to media freedom NGOs, under the terms set out in the proposal.
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-MEDIA-FREEDOM@ec.europa.eu
Website: www.eacea.ec.europa.eu
