Deadline: 21-May-2026
The European Cross-border Grant Programme supports cross-border investigative journalism projects in Europe by funding collaborations between journalists and media outlets in at least two different European countries. With a total budget of €1,680,000 for 2026–2027 and €280,000 available per call across six rounds, the programme funds research-related journalism costs such as travel, translation, databases, and investigative time, while also offering expert advisory support.
Overview
The European Cross-border Grant Programme is an award-winning funding opportunity designed to strengthen independent investigative journalism in Europe.
It supports teams of professional journalists and media outlets working together across borders to produce high-quality, original, and in-depth investigations that matter to European audiences.
The programme is especially valuable for collaborative investigations that need extra resources, time, and expert guidance to be carried out effectively.
Key Details
- Programme Name: European Cross-border Grant Programme
- Geographic Focus: Europe
- Main Purpose: Support cross-border investigative journalism
- Eligible Team Structure: At least 2 professional journalists and/or media outlets in different European countries
- Total Budget (2026–2027): €1,680,000
- Budget Per Call: €280,000
- Number of Application Rounds: 6
- Supported Formats: Print, online, broadcast, and cross-media journalism
Purpose of the Programme
The programme aims to address the shortage of independent journalism in Europe by helping investigative teams carry out ambitious cross-border stories that may otherwise be difficult to fund.
It supports projects that:
- Foster cross-border collaboration
- Produce original and in-depth investigations
- Use innovative journalistic methods
- Deliver stories with strong public interest value
- Reach audiences across multiple European countries
What the Programme Supports
The programme funds investigative journalism research activities needed to complete strong cross-border reporting.
Eligible support includes:
- Travel costs
- Translation costs
- Access to databases
- Time needed for in-depth journalistic investigation
- Other research-related reporting expenses
In addition to funding, selected teams may also receive:
- Guidance from project advisors
- Input from expert mentors
- Support to improve the quality, depth, and impact of investigations
This added advisory element makes the programme especially useful for teams handling complex or multi-country investigations.
What the Programme Does Not Cover
The grant does not support:
- Fixed operational costs
- Equipment purchases
- Production investments
- General organisational overhead not directly tied to research activities
This means the programme is focused on reporting and investigation costs, not newsroom infrastructure.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to cross-border teams of journalists and/or media outlets.
Basic Eligibility
Applicants must form a team that includes:
- At least 2 professional journalists and/or media outlets
- Participants based in different European countries
Budget Requirement
A key rule is that:
- The majority of the project budget must be allocated to participants from EU member states
Publication Requirement
Projects must be intended for publication by:
- At least 2 professional news outlets
- Located in different European countries
This ensures the investigation has a real cross-border publication and audience strategy.
Project Requirements
To be competitive, projects should demonstrate:
- Originality
- Innovation
- Strong journalistic value
- In-depth investigative approach
- Relevance to European audiences
- Clear cross-border collaboration
The programme supports a wide range of themes, so the key is not the topic itself, but the quality, relevance, and cross-border significance of the investigation.
Supported Formats
The programme welcomes different types of investigative storytelling, including:
- Print journalism
- Online journalism
- Broadcast journalism
- Cross-media investigations
This flexibility allows teams to choose the format that best suits the story and audience.
Funding Structure
The funding is distributed over multiple rounds.
Total Available Funding
- €1,680,000 total for 2026–2027
Per Call Allocation
- €280,000 per application round
Number of Rounds
- 6 application rounds
This multi-round structure gives teams several chances to apply across the 2026–2027 period.
Best Fit Applicants
This programme is a strong fit for:
- Investigative journalists
- Independent media outlets
- Journalism consortia
- Collaborative newsroom partnerships
- Cross-border reporting teams
- Nonprofit investigative media organisations
Strong applicants will usually have:
- A clearly defined investigative angle
- Partners in at least two countries
- A strong publication plan
- Clear public-interest relevance
- Evidence of journalistic capacity
- A realistic research budget
Why This Programme Matters
This programme is important because strong investigative journalism often requires:
- Time
- International coordination
- Language support
- Data access
- Travel
- Editorial collaboration
Many cross-border stories are difficult to produce without dedicated support. This grant helps fill that gap by funding the core reporting work needed to uncover complex stories that affect multiple countries or have Europe-wide significance.
It also helps strengthen independent journalism ecosystems by encouraging collaboration rather than isolated reporting.
Tips for a Strong Application
To improve your chances, applicants should:
- Build a clear multi-country team
- Show why the story must be investigated across borders
- Explain the public interest value
- Identify likely outputs and publication partners early
- Keep the budget focused on eligible research costs
- Show how the investigation is original and feasible
- Highlight innovative reporting methods if relevant
FAQs
What is the European Cross-border Grant Programme?
It is a funding programme that supports cross-border investigative journalism projects in Europe, combining grant funding with expert support.
Who can apply?
Teams of at least 2 professional journalists and/or media outlets based in different European countries can apply.
Does the project need publication partners?
Yes. The project must be intended for publication by at least 2 professional news outlets in different European countries.
What costs are covered?
The grant supports research-related journalism costs such as:
- Travel
- Translation
- Database access
- Time for in-depth reporting
What costs are not covered?
It does not cover:
- Fixed operational costs
- Equipment
- Production investments
How much funding is available?
There is €1,680,000 total for 2026–2027, with €280,000 per call across 6 application rounds.
Can non-EU countries be involved?
Yes, but the majority of the project budget must go to participants from EU member states.
What types of journalism formats are eligible?
Eligible formats include print, online, broadcast, and cross-media journalism.
Final Takeaway
The European Cross-border Grant Programme is a strong opportunity for investigative journalists and media outlets in Europe looking to work together on ambitious, public-interest cross-border investigations.
With funding for core reporting costs, expert advisory support, and a multi-round budget structure, it is especially well suited for teams that want to produce original, in-depth journalism that can reach audiences across multiple European countries.
For more information, visit Journalismfund Europe.