Political level

Political level (European Parliament & Council)

Do

Safeguard editorial independence across EU instruments (back core/operational funding lines; resist content-linked strings).

Embed risk & safety baselines (physical, digital, legal, psycho-social) in regulations, calls, and budget notes.

Allow context-based exemptions from EU visibility/branding where it could endanger partners or perceived independence.

Champion donor coordination & harmonisation (reporting light, shared M&E, pooled funds) to reduce grantee burden.

Don’t

Don’t mandate branding/communications in ways that expose outlets or undermine independence/neutrality.

Don’t push short funding cycles that create churn, dependency and staff burnout.

Best practice / How

Reference EMFA/anti-SLAPP work to frame “do no harm” as independence & safety; ask Commission/EEAS to publish harm-mitigation checklists per instrument.

Insert a “harm test” in recitals/council conclusions: visibility, data disclosure, and public comms must be risk-assessed and waivable.