The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has expressed disappointment over US funding cuts to Radio Free Europe and said the EU cannot automatically fill the gap. The US Agency for Global Media stopped grants over the weekend to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which broadcasts to 23 countries, including Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, and Afghanistan.
The decision has been met with criticism from politicians and experts, who see it as a blow to democracy in several countries. Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, described Radio Free Europe as “a beacon of democracy” that has brought unbiased news to audiences behind the iron curtain during the Cold War era.
The Czech Republic is leading a push for the EU to support RFE/RL, with its foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, calling for discussions on how to maintain the outlet’s broadcasting. The EU was already discussing how far it could fill gaps left by the abrupt termination of USAid funding.
Radio Free Europe has been a major source of information in several countries, including Poland, where it played a crucial role in exposing the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. Experts warn that without US funding, RFE/RL may not be able to recover from this setback.
The decision comes amid strained relations between the US and Russia, with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty facing bans or restrictions in several countries, including Russia.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/17/eus-foreign-policy-chief-laments-us-funding-cuts-to-radio-free-europe