ESA greenlights Norwegian aid scheme for Sámi news outlets
The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved Norway’s new aid scheme to support Sámi news and current affairs media. The scheme aims to strengthen democratic debate, promote high-quality journalism, and support the continued use and development of Sámi languages.
The updated, platform-neutral scheme extends longstanding support for Sámi newspapers to include digital media, ensuring equal treatment for both print and online outlets and encouraging greater diversity in Sámi journalism.
The scheme will run for six years from 1 January 2026 and have a total budget estimated at around NOK 301 million. ESA has concluded that the scheme is compatible with EEA rules and in particular Article 61(3)(c) EEA Agreement and raises no objections to its implementation.
For more information, see ESA’s decision.