Commission boosts independent fact-checking with a €5 million grant under the European Democracy Shield

On 31 March, the European Commission signed a €5 million grant agreement to support independent fact-checkers across the EU and beyond.

The initiative will strengthen fact-checking capacity in all EU languages and foster cooperation among relevant players. It will also establish a protection scheme for fact-checkers covering assistance in matters such as legal affairs, cybersecurity, psychological support as well as developing an independent European repository of fact-checks.

The grant agreement follows the call for proposals launched in April 2025 to support the growth of a European Network of Fact-Checkers. It aligns with the priorities set out in President von der Leyen's 2024-2029 Political Guidelines and contributes to the objectives of the European Democracy Shield. By strengthening Europe's independent fact-checking community, the project will also improve the EU's ability to detect and analyse disinformation threats and strengthen information integrity across the Union.

The initiative, titled 'Fact-Checkers for European Resilience Against Disinformation: Network for Emergency, Protection and Technology' will be led by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), together with seven partner organisations. It will build on and complement existing efforts, including the work of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO). It will aim to ensure fact-checking coverage in all EU Member States and official EU languages, as well as countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme (DEP).

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