Blog: Why does the European Commission provide grants for the initiatives in Russia and other countries?

Recently, the Russian media has repeatedly reported that the European Commission intends to allocate funds for the implementation of projects in Russia and other countries. The projects are aimed at developing civil society and democratic transformation, promoting freedom of expression and media literacy, improving understanding of EU policy.

True: European Commission will finance the development of media literacy of the Russians in a context of pandemic

The information about the intention of the European Commission to finance development of media literacy in Russia was published on the website of Russian international news channel RT on April 15, 2020. It is reported that EC is going to provide EUR 3.200.000 within the framework of the grant for the promotion and protection the freedom…

Mostly true: “For every extra billion euros we export, we create 14.000 new jobs in the EU”

Geert Bourgeois, a representative of Flemish nationalist party N-VA in the European Parliament, claims in Flemish newspaper De Standaard (25.01.2020, paywall) that for every billion euros of exports, we create 14.000 new jobs in Europe. This statement comes in response to the trade agreement concluded with Vietnam in 2019. These figures turn out to be…