Pan-European Newsroom to bring together 16 press agencies

he project should begin in January and the European Newsroom should be up and operating by mid-2022.

“We are creating a European newsroom space and increasing citizens’ access to quality information. The first-ever pan-European newsroom will allow journalists to report jointly on EU affairs and promote a spirit of collaboration back at home,” European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said addressing the European News Media Forum.

The project, to be coordinated by Germany’s dpa, brings together 16 agencies: AFP (France), ANSA (Italy), Agerpres (Romania), APA (Austria), ATA (Albania), Belga (Belgium), BTA (Bulgaria), EFE (Spain), FENA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), MIA (North Macedonia), STA (Slovenia), Tanjug (Serbia), TASR (Slovakia) and Hina (Croatia). Tanjug was officially taken off the register of media and companies several years ago but continued operating with state funding and was sold to a private company.

The Newsroom will be a central point for agency correspondents who report on the work of European institutions.

“By working together across borders, media are stronger. Cross-border investigations bring incredible results, see Pandora papers. We support such cooperation,” Věra Jourová, the Commissioner for Values and Transparency, tweeted on Monday.

The project was selected for co-financing valued at €1.76 million.

European funds will be used to finance training for journalists and for a new multi-language website for selected articles by the participating European agencies that deal with the European Union.