EU Sets Aside EUR2.4 Mil To Assist Media in Serbia over Next Three Years

European Union (Shutterstock)

Over the next three years, the EU will disburse a total of EUR2.4 million in grants to assist media outlets in Serbia deal with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Applicants can receive from EU10,000 to EUR150,000, with an average grant amounting between EUR40,000 and EUR60,000.

EU Delegation to Serbia Head Sem Fabrizi on Sept. 8 said that the goal of the project was to ease as much as possible the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and to empower media outlets to be more independent and more professional.

“Media outlets are hit by double difficulties – economic changes in doing business and technology transformation, while in parallel they must meet the main goal of independent and professional reporting,” Fabrizi said while presenting the EU’s invitation of applications for grants.

In the media domain, the EU focus was on ensuring an environment for free speech, Fabrizi said, adding that the implementation of the media strategy, adopted in early 2020, would help create a more favorable environment, which, he said, “is the crucial element in accessing the EU.”