Kallas suggests the EU might assume control of RFE/RL
The EU plans to explore ways to support the US state-funded outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which has faced budget reductions due to President Donald Trump’s cuts, according to Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s leading diplomat. Founded during...
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The EU plans to explore ways to support the US state-funded outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which has faced budget reductions due to President Donald Trump’s cuts, according to Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s leading diplomat.
Founded during the Cold War, RFE/RL aimed to disseminate pro-Western messages in the Soviet Bloc. Initially funded by the CIA, the organization still receives financial assistance from the US Congress.
At a press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, Kallas was asked whether the EU might provide “temporary protection” for Russian journalists affected by contract terminations. In her response, she emphasized the significance of RFE/RL's broadcasts during the Cold War: “very valuable.”
“It is sad to hear that the US is withdrawing the funding. Now the question for us is, can we come in with our funding to fill the void?” Kallas stated. “The answer to that question is… not automatically because we have a lot of organizations that are coming with the same request.”
She added, “But there was really a push from the foreign ministers to discuss this and find a way. So this is the [task of] our side to see what we can do.”
The European Commission, along with officials from various EU member states, has condemned Trump's decision to significantly reduce the budget for the news agency. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky expressed on X last week that he intended to discuss options to “at least partially maintain its broadcasts.” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski mentioned on Monday that the EU was “brainstorming” solutions to assist RFE, according to The Kyiv Independent.
On March 14, Trump signed an executive order mandating budget and staff cuts at the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFE/RL alongside other state-funded media, including the Voice of America. The White House described the decision as part of a broader initiative to eliminate “unnecessary” government functions. Trump has consistently accused media organizations of bias and spreading “fake news” regarding his administration.
Stephen Capus, President and CEO of RFE/RL, referred to the budget cuts as “a massive gift to America’s enemies.”
In response to the situation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized RFE/RL and Voice of America as “purely propagandistic media” and indicated that the funding reductions were a matter for the US's domestic policy decisions.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this article for TROIB News
Founded during the Cold War, RFE/RL aimed to disseminate pro-Western messages in the Soviet Bloc. Initially funded by the CIA, the organization still receives financial assistance from the US Congress.
At a press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, Kallas was asked whether the EU might provide “temporary protection” for Russian journalists affected by contract terminations. In her response, she emphasized the significance of RFE/RL's broadcasts during the Cold War: “very valuable.”
“It is sad to hear that the US is withdrawing the funding. Now the question for us is, can we come in with our funding to fill the void?” Kallas stated. “The answer to that question is… not automatically because we have a lot of organizations that are coming with the same request.”
She added, “But there was really a push from the foreign ministers to discuss this and find a way. So this is the [task of] our side to see what we can do.”
The European Commission, along with officials from various EU member states, has condemned Trump's decision to significantly reduce the budget for the news agency. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky expressed on X last week that he intended to discuss options to “at least partially maintain its broadcasts.” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski mentioned on Monday that the EU was “brainstorming” solutions to assist RFE, according to The Kyiv Independent.
On March 14, Trump signed an executive order mandating budget and staff cuts at the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFE/RL alongside other state-funded media, including the Voice of America. The White House described the decision as part of a broader initiative to eliminate “unnecessary” government functions. Trump has consistently accused media organizations of bias and spreading “fake news” regarding his administration.
Stephen Capus, President and CEO of RFE/RL, referred to the budget cuts as “a massive gift to America’s enemies.”
In response to the situation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized RFE/RL and Voice of America as “purely propagandistic media” and indicated that the funding reductions were a matter for the US's domestic policy decisions.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this article for TROIB News
