The project combines online and offline training with a mentorship programme designed to strengthen environmental journalism in Italy and Spain by empowering local reporters to scrutinise EU public funds. Focusing on two regions heavily affected by climate and social crises - Taranto (Italy) and Valencia (Spain) - the project equips journalists with the tools, mentorship, and networks needed to investigate whether European Recovery, Cohesion, and Just Transition Funds are truly delivering climate justice for local communities.
The project will commence in January 2026. The first activity will be a free online introductory training on EU funding systems, followed by a call for participants for two in-person workshops, one in Taranto and one in Valencia. These workshops aim to strengthen the capacity of journalists and civil society actors to scrutinise EU funds and investigate climate-related stories.
In May 2026, the in-person workshops will take place in the Italian and Spanish regions, organised by REVOLVE and by Marea Media & MIRA Network respectively. They will combine field visits, expert sessions, and hands-on investigative exercises.
Following a call for pitches, selected stories will receive micro-grants and mentorship from July to October 2026 to develop original investigations into EU-funded environmental projects. The resulting findings will be published locally, nationally, and internationally, and amplified through the partners’ networks.
Throughout the project, the three partners will co-create an open-access Toolkit for Investigating Environmental EU Funds, with the aim of building a lasting legacy and providing supporting materials for environmental journalists across Europe. The project will conclude with a final online event at the end of 2026, showcasing the mentored journalists’ investigations and disseminating the toolkit.
