Brussels: The European Parliament has announced the call for submissions for the fifth edition of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism. This annual prize seeks to recognize journalism that champions the fundamental values upheld by the European Union, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Prize was officially launched on May 21, with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasizing the importance of press freedom in safeguarding democracy. She stated, “A free press is the best shield for democracy. Journalists must be free to report without fear of censorship, intimidation, or retaliation.” The Prize aims to honor journalists who illuminate critical issues and speak truth to power, underscoring the European Parliament’s commitment to truth and free speech.
Open to professional journalists and teams from any nationality, the prize encourages submissions of in-depth pieces published or broadcast by media in the 27 EU countries. The selection of the winning entry will be made by an independent jury comprising representatives from the press and civil society across member states, along with main European journalists’ associations.
The award ceremony, scheduled around mid-October, commemorates the anniversary of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese journalist known for her work against corruption and organized crime. The prize includes a monetary award of £20,000, showcasing the European Parliament’s dedication to supporting investigative journalism and media freedom.
Past recipients of the prize include notable investigations such as ‘The Pegasus Project’ in 2021 and the 2023 joint investigation on the Pylos migrant boat shipwreck. The submission deadline for this year’s entries is July 31, 2025, and journalists are encouraged to apply online.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was a prominent figure in journalism, known for her fearless reporting on corruption and organized crime. Her assassination in 2017 sparked international outrage and led to increased efforts to protect media freedom and journalists’ safety within the European Union.