The European Story Fund was an innovative initiative set up by the European Fund for the Balkans and co-financed by the Balkan Trust for Democracy to support the production of stories on relevant European topics by journalists from the Western Balkans, as well as those based in Brussels, reporting on WB issues.
The produced stories were then shared and broadcast by multiple media outlets/TV stations throughout the Western Balkans. The Fund provided small grants to cover the additional costs of producing stories focussed on European issues relevant to the countries of the Western Balkans.
This initiative aimed to improve public understanding of the European accession process and debate on EU integration in the Western Balkans. It established a flexible cooperative network of TV journalists regarded as the best in their field, who shared ideas, know-how and resources in the story production process. The initiative was initially proposed by journalists from different countries of the Western Balkans. It was a great example of a locally driven regional cooperation, and it lasted between 2009 and 2011.