ACTIVITIES :: Safer Internet Programme :: Policy :: Programme

Safer Internet Programme: the main framework for European policy

Children and young people are almost expert users of online technologies. However, this does not mean they all have the maturity to identify the potential risks they may be exposed to, let alone their possible consequences.

Young people, parents, carers and teachers must be informed of the potential risks that youngsters may encounter online. Fighting illegal and harmful content and conduct online should be a priority . These have been the objectives of the EU's successive Safer Internet Programmes since the first one was created in 1999.

Current programme (2009-2013): more focus on grooming and bullying

Safer Internet 2009-2013 builds on the success of the previous programme and will have a budget of €55 million. The new programme will fight not only illegal content but also harmful conduct such as grooming and bullying. Funds will also serve to develop expert knowledge about existing and emerging uses, risks and consequences of online technologies for children's lives, including the technical, psychological and sociological aspects of online-related child sexual abuse.

See factsheet

Making the Internet safer over the years: a chronology of the different programmes

The Safer Internet plus programme covered the period 2005–2008 with € 45 million worth of funding. It covered mainly public awareness activities, actions for fighting illegal and harmful content online and actions promoting a safer online environment.

The Safer Internet programme has been running since 1999. Three successive programmes have been adopted since then, each one covering 4-5 years.

Learn more about the projects that are funded by the Safer Internet Programme.
Read about the early developments of the programme.

Who can participate in the programmes?

27 European Member States

Participation in the Safer Internet programme is open to legal entities established in the EU Member States.

EFTA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)

Participation in the Safer Internet programme is open to legal entities established in countries of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, i.e. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement.

Accession countries and candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)

Participation in the Safer Internet programme is open to legal entities established in accession and candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Community programmes established in the respective Framework Agreements and Association Council Decisions. However, they will only receive funding if a bilateral agreement with the relevant country has been concluded to this effect.

No bilateral agreement has been concluded so far.

Western Balkans and European neighbourhood countries

Participation in the Safer Internet programme is open to legal entities established in countries of the Western Balkans and the European neighbourhood, in accordance with the provisions to be determined with those countries following the establishment of Framework Agreements concerning their participation in Community programmes. However, they will only receive funding if a bilateral agreement with the relevant country has been concluded to this effect.

No bilateral agreement has been concluded so far.

Third countries

Participation in the Safer Internet programme is open to legal entities established in a third country being a party to an international agreement with the Community, under the terms or on the basis of which it makes a financial contribution to the Programme.

International organizations

International organisations and legal entities established in third countries may take part in shared-cost actions, with or without Community funding, under the following conditions:

The action must fall under a priority for international cooperation as defined in the annual work programmes. These priorities may be defined by thematic area of activity, by geographic criteria or both.
The annual work programmes may define further criteria and conditions which must be satisfied by international organisations and legal entities established in third countries in order to receive Community funding.

Detailed information on the application procedure and criteria will be included in the call for proposals.