Europe is to become the world’s largest funder of public-interest journalism

As the next seven-year EU budget (the Multi-annual Financial Framework, or MFF) is being negotiated, Europe is on track to become the largest public-sector supporter of public-interest information ecosystems globally. This shift comes as US government support declines and private philanthropy becomes more cautious. This panel will situate journalism within the EU budget debate, briefly outlining the three main funding envelopes relevant to media, where negotiations currently stand, and how sustained advocacy is trying to move journalism from the margins toward the centre of EU policy.
Beyond budget mechanics, the discussion will address deeper questions. Why does it make strategic sense for Europe to invest in public-interest information (inside and outside the EU)? And how will Europe's increasing role affect the global information ecosystem?
The panel will examine the democratic, economic, and geopolitical rationale, including resilience against near-peer adversaries and the EU’s role as a global normative power. Speakers will also explore how the EU currently funds media (largely through grants) and what alternative or complementary instruments could look like in the next budget cycle, from longer-term structural support to new financing models.
Moderated by Peter Erdelyi.