The Principality of Monaco has announced a voluntary contribution of €50,000 to support a new youth-focused initiative under the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter Campaign, to be launched in the context of Monaco’s upcoming Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

The contribution will support the project Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter, which places young people at the centre of efforts to strengthen freedom of expression, protect journalists’ safety and counter disinformation. The initiative responds to the growing challenges faced by young people navigating an information space shaped by algorithms, platforms and manipulation, while journalists increasingly face threats, harassment and intimidation.

Conceived as a multi-year and cross-presidency initiative, the project will be announced under the Moldovan Presidency in 2026, officially launched during the Monaco Presidency with a high-level European youth event in Strasbourg in November 2026, and continued through youth-led projects whose results will be showcased under the Dutch Presidency in 2027. In this way, the initiative ensures continuity, sustainability and long-term impact beyond a single presidency.

Through awareness-raising activities, creative workshops and youth-led mini-projects supported by small grants, the project will empower young people to understand why journalists matter for democratic resilience and how they can actively contribute to safer, more trustworthy media environments in their communities.

The voluntary contribution from Monaco reflects a strong political and financial commitment to youth participation, media freedom and democratic resilience, and reinforces the Council of Europe’s efforts to involve younger generations in shaping responses to disinformation and threats to journalism across Europe.