As part of the European Democracy Shield initiative, this call aims to create a more reliable and safer online environment for European citizens by supporting fact-checking aligned with EU political priorities for 2024-2029.
Key Objectives
- Strengthen pan-European fact-checking capacities
- Ensure services are available in all EU member states and official languages
- Build on the work of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) and European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN)
Funded Activities
✅ Protection schemes for fact-checkers against harassment
✅ EU-wide fact-checking database
✅ Rapid response capacity, including crisis situations
Funding & Eligibility
- Budget: €5 million
- Open to:
- EU member states
- Candidate/potential candidate countries
- Neighboring nations vulnerable to disinformation (especially pro-Kremlin narratives)
- Digital Europe Programme partner regions
Target Organizations
Consortia must include:
- EFCSN/IFCN-certified fact-checkers (see Section 6)
And may involve: - Civil society groups
- Media/news organizations
- Academic institutions
- Commercial entities with relevant expertise
Key Dates
📅 Call open: 15 April – 2 September 2025
⏰ Application deadline: 22 September 2025
Resources
🔗 Call documents: HERE
ℹ️ More info: Funding & Tenders Portal
This initiative directly combats disinformation while safeguarding democratic discourse across Europe.