Guidance by institution & role

The how. Actor-specific do’s, don’ts & best-practice for media & information support.

This section provides guidance for each EU institution and actor involved in supporting independent media and information integrity.

While the OECD Principles define what good support looks like, this part of the Toolkit focuses on how to apply them within the EU system, from the political level and the European Commission’s Directorates-General to Delegations, executive agencies, financial institutions, and Member State actors.

Each page outlines:

• Do’s, don’ts, and best practices for programme design, funding, and coordination.

• Checklists to integrate safety, independence, and sustainability into all stages of EU action.

• Examples and field insights drawn from interviews, focus groups, and donor reports.

Who it’s for

• Policymakers at EU headquarters and within Member States shaping strategies, budgets, and regulations.

• Operational staff in EU Delegations, embassies, and development agencies implementing democracy, governance, digital, or economic programmes.

• Cross-sectoral teams seeking to embed media and information integrity into broader portfolios.

• Implementing partners looking for clarity on donor expectations and coordination mechanisms.

Why it matters

Media and information integrity are no longer niche concerns, they are essential to Europe’s security, democratic resilience, and economic competitiveness. By aligning institutional practice with the OECD Principles, the EU and its Member States can ensure that every euro invested strengthens credible information ecosystems rather than inadvertently undermining them.