EU to Provide €10 Million to Independent Media in Ukraine
The European Union is considering a €10 million aid package to support independent media in Ukraine. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said during a meeting with journalists that this package is under discussion, Ukrinform reports.
‘We are currently considering a €10 million package for independent media. 10 million consists of contracts, 7 million of which are currently being discussed and should be completed in the near future,’ Mathernova explained.
She noted that out of this package, €2 million will go to Reporters Without Borders to subsidise small media and support the production of journalists under threat. Another €3 million will go to Internews for the Media Development Fund for subgrants, €1 million will go to the Institute of Mass Information to support small and medium-sized media, and another €1 million will be distributed among several smaller projects, including the Black Sea Foundation, Docudays and Culture vs War.
Mathernova also said that in May, the EU will announce a call for another €3 million, which will be specifically aimed at supporting regional media and independent journalists.
According to her, since 2017, the EU has already provided more than €100 million to independent media through various programmes, contracts, subgrants and partnership initiatives. Since February 2022, this support has amounted to €37 million, including over €16 million for UA:PBC, which has received over €16 million.
The head of the EU Delegation also stressed that a separate project worth €1 million is being implemented to train journalists working in dangerous conditions, as well as a number of other initiatives.
On 10 March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States had decided to close 83% of USAID programmes, which could lead to the closure of many independent Ukrainian media outlets.
As The Gaze reported, a year ago, the Council of the European Union adopted a new law that would protect media freedom, media pluralism and editorial independence in the EU.