Call for proposals for a pilot project for European research grants for journalists

The European Commission aunched a call for proposals for a pilot project for European research grants for journalists, which is intended to facilitate and develop serious cross-border journalistic research at EU level. This call for proposals will be organised with a view to selecting common investigation projects involving journalists from at least two Member States, with a cross-border or European dimension resulting from a national, regional or local perspective.

To be eligible for a grant, the applicants (natural or legal persons) must satisfy the following conditions:

• They must form a team of two or more journalists, from at least two different Member States of the European Union, one of them being the team leader;
• Journalists from third countries may be part of the team provided that their presence is justified by the subject or the geographical scope of the project and that the condition of having at least two members from two different Member States is fulfilled.

The conditions of eligibility of the projects are the following:

• They must address an issue of public interest for a European audience;
• They have a cross-border or European dimension resulting from a national, regional or local perspective;
• They aim to establish the facts and context, and to provide better understanding of a news story.

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the projects under this call amounts to € 1100 000. Awards are likely to vary considerably as regards the amount granted, depending
on the type of project.

The European Commission reserves the right not to distribute all funds available.

The amount of the grant may not exceed 75 % of the total eligible costs for each project. A minimum of 25 % of the total estimated eligible expenditure of the project must come from sources other than the European Union budget. Applicants must provide evidence that cofinancing is available (secured) for the remaining cost of the project.

Deadline for the submission of applications is 15 January 2011.

For more information please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/communication/contracts_and_grants/grants/2010_en.htm