EUROPE AID/134613/C/ACT/MULTI CIVIL SOCIETY FACILITY MEDIA FREEDOM AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAMME/ SUPPORT TO REGIONAL MEDIA NETWORKS AND PROMOTION OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

Background                                                                              Max. Grant amount: EUR 600.000

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right which is safeguarded by international law and forms an integral part of the functioning of pluralistic democracy. For the accession process, ensuring this freedom is a key component of the Copenhagen political criteria for membership. The IPA beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and Turkey are characterised on the whole by pluralist media landscapes. However, in a number of countries, a lack of positive transition progress and even negative developments in this area has recently been observed. Challenges to freedom of expression and the media include political interference through the legal system and economic pressure. Crime and corruption are used to influence the media and there is insufficient protection of journalists against harassment or even violent attacks. Economic challenges relate to a lack of transparency and concentration of ownership, lack of fair competition and the lack of independence of market regulators.

Size of grants

Any grant requested under this Call for Proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

Lot 1:
   - minimum amount: EUR 290.000
   - maximum amount: EUR 330.000

Lot 2:
   - minimum amount: EUR 300.000
   - maximum amount: EUR 600.000

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a grant, the applicant must:
   - be non-profit-making
   - be a media organisation (CSOs) or representative network of CSOs  working on a theme of relevance to this Call for Proposals
   - be established in a Member State of the European Union or in a Beneficiary under the Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance (hereafter
     referred to as IPA Beneficiary
   - be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as
     an intermediary
   - be active in, or group CSOs from at least four of the seven IPA Beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and Turkey (Lot II)


Deadline: 02 September 2013

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