(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 18 SET - The European Commission announced today at the second EU-Western Balkans Media Days conference in Skopje a new training programme worth 2 million euros for journalists of the Western Balkans. It is expected to be signed before the end of 2018 to step up EU support to media freedom and young journalists in the region. "Protecting and safeguarding fundamental rights such as media freedom are of crucial importance, also for further progress on the EU path", EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, said. He pointed out that the six Western Balkans need "to boost progress also in the area" of information, which is key to "foster reconciliation" in the country. Brussels also confirmed to strengthen its partnership with UNESCO (worth 1.5 million euro) to increase media literacy among the citizens of the region. EU developed regional programmes to support press freedom in the period 2014-2020. The main ones involve a partnership with the Council of Europe for reinforcing judicial expertise on freedom of expression (2.5 million euros), a regional network of journalists associations (financed with 1.2 million euros), a direct grant to the European Endowment for Democracy (4 million euros) to support for small-scale media, journalists, bloggers, non-registered organisations, new and independent media. (ANSA).