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Kallas states EU possibly to attain US state-funded press source
(MENAFN) The European Union is exploring ways to financially support radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) after US President Donald trump drastically reduced its funding, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said.
RFE/RL, originally established during the Cold War to promote Western viewpoints in the Eastern Bloc, was initially backed by the CIA and continues to receive US Congressional grants.
During a press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, Kallas was asked whether the EU would offer “temporary protection” to Russian journalists affected by the funding cuts. She acknowledged the historical significance of RFE/RL’s broadcasts, calling them “very valuable.”
“It is unfortunate that the US is withdrawing its support. The question now is whether we can step in to fill the gap,” Kallas stated. However, she cautioned that many organizations were seeking EU funding, making immediate support uncertain.
According to Kallas, several foreign ministers pushed for discussions on how to assist RFE/RL. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky recently indicated he would explore ways to “at least partially maintain” the broadcasts. Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed that EU leaders were “brainstorming” solutions, as reported by The Kyiv Independent.
On March 14, Trump signed an executive order cutting funding and staff at the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFE/RL and other state-funded broadcasters like Voice of America. The White House justified the move as part of a broader effort to eliminate “unnecessary” government expenses. Trump has long accused mainstream media of bias and spreading “fake news” about his administration.
RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus criticized the decision, calling it “a massive gift to America’s enemies.” Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the situation as a US domestic issue, labeling RFE/RL and Voice of America as “purely propagandistic media.”
RFE/RL, originally established during the Cold War to promote Western viewpoints in the Eastern Bloc, was initially backed by the CIA and continues to receive US Congressional grants.
During a press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, Kallas was asked whether the EU would offer “temporary protection” to Russian journalists affected by the funding cuts. She acknowledged the historical significance of RFE/RL’s broadcasts, calling them “very valuable.”
“It is unfortunate that the US is withdrawing its support. The question now is whether we can step in to fill the gap,” Kallas stated. However, she cautioned that many organizations were seeking EU funding, making immediate support uncertain.
According to Kallas, several foreign ministers pushed for discussions on how to assist RFE/RL. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky recently indicated he would explore ways to “at least partially maintain” the broadcasts. Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed that EU leaders were “brainstorming” solutions, as reported by The Kyiv Independent.
On March 14, Trump signed an executive order cutting funding and staff at the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFE/RL and other state-funded broadcasters like Voice of America. The White House justified the move as part of a broader effort to eliminate “unnecessary” government expenses. Trump has long accused mainstream media of bias and spreading “fake news” about his administration.
RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus criticized the decision, calling it “a massive gift to America’s enemies.” Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the situation as a US domestic issue, labeling RFE/RL and Voice of America as “purely propagandistic media.”
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