Deadline: 01-Oct-2026
The European Cross-border Grants Programme supports collaborative investigative journalism projects that involve journalists and media organisations from multiple European countries. The programme provides funding for research-related costs such as reporting time, travel, translation, database access, and investigative activities to strengthen independent journalism and cross-border reporting.
About the European Cross-border Grants Programme
The European Cross-border Grants Programme supports professional journalists and media organisations working together on investigative projects that address issues of public interest across Europe.
Since 2009, the programme has funded collaborative journalism projects that promote:
- Independent journalism
- Cross-border investigations
- European-focused reporting
- Innovative investigative methods
- Public-interest journalism
- Cooperation between journalists and media organisations
The programme encourages journalists to work across national borders to investigate complex topics that require international collaboration and expertise.
Purpose of the European Cross-border Grants Programme
The programme aims to strengthen European investigative journalism by supporting projects that:
- Investigate topics affecting multiple countries
- Encourage collaboration between journalists and media organisations
- Produce original and impactful reporting
- Improve transparency and accountability
- Develop innovative approaches to investigative research
Supported investigations should demonstrate strong journalistic value, depth, and relevance for European audiences.
Key Focus Areas of the Programme
The programme supports projects related to:
- Cross-border investigative journalism
- European social, political, economic, and cultural issues
- Collaborative reporting projects
- Investigative research methods
- Media partnerships
- Freedom of information requests
- Data-based journalism
- Legal and ethical review of investigations
- International publication partnerships
Projects may use different investigative approaches as long as they involve professional journalism and cross-border cooperation.
Funding Amount and Grant Details
The European Cross-border Grants Programme provides a total funding budget of:
- Total programme budget: €1,680,000
- Number of funding rounds: Six application rounds
- Funding per call: €280,000
The funding rounds include:
- Four calls in 2026
- Two calls in 2027
What Costs Can the Grant Support?
Grant funding is intended for expenses directly connected to investigative journalism activities.
Eligible costs may include:
- Journalist working time
- Research activities
- Travel required for reporting
- Translation services
- Access to paid databases
- Freedom of information requests
- Legal screening
- Insurance related to reporting activities
The programme prioritises efficient use of funding and encourages applicants to reduce unnecessary travel.
Costs Not Covered by the Grant
The funding does not support general organisational expenses, including:
- Office costs
- Equipment purchases
- Regular operational expenses
- Production costs unrelated to research activities
Applicants should ensure that requested funding directly contributes to investigative reporting.
Who Is Eligible?
The programme is open to:
- Professional freelance journalists
- Legally established media organisations
Applicants must represent at least:
- Two different European countries
The project must involve cross-border cooperation between journalists or media organisations.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- The investigation must cover at least two countries.
- The project must involve professional journalism.
- The investigation must have publication commitments from at least two professional news outlets.
- Participating news outlets must be located in two different European countries.
Media organisations must:
- Be legally established.
- Have been incorporated for at least one year before the application deadline.
Participation of Non-European Team Members
Journalists and experts from outside Europe may participate if their involvement is necessary for the investigation.
However:
- At least 80% of the requested budget must support journalists or media organisations based in European Union member states.
Who Cannot Apply?
The following are not eligible:
- Students
- Non-professional journalists
- Media organisations that do not meet legal establishment requirements
Projects that do not include cross-border collaboration are also not eligible.
Eligible Investigation Topics
The programme welcomes proposals covering a wide range of journalistic themes.
Potential topics may include:
- Democracy and governance
- Human rights
- Economic issues
- Social challenges
- Migration
- Public accountability
- European policy issues
- Cross-border crime
- Institutional transparency
However, projects mainly focused on environmental investigations should apply through the dedicated Investigation Grants for Environmental Journalism programme instead.
How the European Cross-border Grants Programme Works
Step 1: Build a Cross-border Journalism Team
Applicants should create a collaboration involving:
- Journalists from different European countries
- Media organisations
- Investigative partners
The team should have the expertise required to complete the investigation.
Step 2: Develop an Investigation Proposal
The proposal should explain:
- The investigation topic
- Public interest value
- Countries involved
- Research methodology
- Expected outcomes
- Publication strategy
- Budget requirements
Step 3: Secure Publication Partners
Each project must secure publication commitments from at least two professional news outlets.
Applicants must provide:
- Letters of intent from participating media outlets
- Confirmation that they plan to publish the investigation
Step 4: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit their proposal according to the programme application guidelines and provide all required documentation.
Selection and Evaluation Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Quality of the investigative idea
- Public interest relevance
- Cross-border cooperation
- Innovation in investigative methods
- Professional experience of applicants
- Feasibility of the project plan
- Publication strategy
- Effective use of funding
Previous recipients of Journalismfund Europe grants may apply again. Their previous project performance may be considered during evaluation.
Why This Grant Matters
Investigative journalism plays an important role in promoting transparency, accountability, and informed societies.
Cross-border investigations allow journalists to address issues that cannot be fully understood from a single-country perspective.
The programme helps journalists:
- Access resources for complex investigations
- Collaborate internationally
- Strengthen independent media
- Reach wider European audiences
- Produce high-quality public-interest reporting
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting projects without a clear cross-border element
- Applying without confirmed publication partners
- Requesting funding for unrelated organisational costs
- Proposing topics without strong public interest value
- Including unnecessary travel expenses
- Failing to demonstrate investigative methods and outcomes
Application Tips for Strong Proposals
Applicants should:
- Clearly explain why the investigation requires international cooperation.
- Highlight the public importance of the topic.
- Demonstrate the experience of the journalism team.
- Provide realistic timelines and budgets.
- Show how findings will reach audiences across countries.
- Include strong publication partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the European Cross-border Grants Programme?
It is a funding programme that supports collaborative investigative journalism projects involving journalists and media organisations from multiple European countries.
How much funding is available?
The programme has a total budget of €1.68 million, with €280,000 available for each application round.
Who can apply for the grant?
Professional freelance journalists and legally established media organisations from at least two European countries can apply.
Can journalists outside Europe participate?
Yes. Non-European team members may participate when their contribution is necessary, but at least 80% of funding must support EU-based journalists or media organisations.
What costs can the grant cover?
The grant can support reporting time, travel, translation, database access, legal screening, insurance, and other research-related costs.
Are students eligible to apply?
No. The programme is designed for professional journalists and media organisations.
How many countries must be involved in an investigation?
Each project must involve a cross-border investigation covering at least two countries.
Conclusion
The European Cross-border Grants Programme provides essential support for investigative journalists and media organisations working on international stories that require collaboration across borders. By funding research, reporting, and publication activities, the programme strengthens independent journalism and helps uncover issues of importance to European societies.
Through cross-border cooperation, the initiative enables journalists to produce deeper investigations, increase transparency, and deliver impactful reporting to audiences across Europe.
For more information, visit Journalismfund Europe.