Since 2022, ECPMF’s Voices of Ukraine programme, under Hannah-Arendt-Initiative, has supported Ukrainian journalists and media outlets. As Russia’s full-scale invasion entered its fifth year, with consequences for independent media rippling beyond Ukraine’s borders, ECPMF is now broadening this work into a new programme Support and Assistance for Free Expression (SAFE) project.

Every component built for Ukraine over the past four years continues under SAFE, and is delivered through the same network of partners behind  Voices of Ukraine, including Public Interest Journalism Lab (PIJL), The Fix Media Foundation, the Association of Independent Regional Press Publishers of Ukraine (AIRPPU), Women in Media (WiM), Lviv Media Forum (LMF), and the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK). Direct emergency grants, the Technology Support Fund, Hostile Environment and Emergency First Aid Training, frontline insurance, dedicated support for women journalists, and short-term residencies in Ukraine all continue as before.

At the same time, SAFE extends the scope of ECPMF’s initial programme to the countries of Eastern Partnership, enabling media professionals in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to access three dedicated support funds:

• Emergency Support Fund:  Financial and safety-related assistance covering  lost or destroyed professional equipment, urgent medical needs, or direct threats.
• Psychological Support Fund: Grants for urgent mental health support to aid media workers affected by conflict, repression, and hostile environments.
• Media Capacity Support Fund: Grants to strengthen safety, security, and professional resilience for independent media operating at  high-risk.

This regional expansion addresses a growing media crisis across the Eastern Partnership where locally, political and legal contexts vary but media workers throughout the region face interconnected threats. Independent outlets, already operating under growing pressure, are increasingly struggling against the rollout of restrictive legislation and critical funding cuts. These shortfalls threaten the survival of independent journalism, weakening defense against pervasive disinformation and heightened pressure on press freedom.  

Through SAFE, ECPMF is providing additional places in its existing Journalists-in-Residence (JiR) programme in Leipzig for media workers facing threats or intimidation, offering accommodation, a monthly stipend, health insurance, access to psychosocial support and training.

Opportunities to access support under SAFE are rolling out in phases. The SAFE Media Capacity Support Fund is already active and currently accepting applications for training grants of up to €5,000 per programme, with a submission deadline of 30 September 2026.

To learn more about the full scope of SAFE, visit the SAFE project page. Details regarding eligibility and application steps for Leipzig placements are available on the Journalists-in-Residence page.