Brussels, Belgium – A coalition of European nations, including Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden, has pledged support to rescue Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) following the United States' decision to withdraw its funding. The Czech Republic initiated the effort, which has garnered swift backing, aiming to ensure the continued operation of the vital news source.
RFE/RL, established during the Cold War to promote democratic values in Eastern Bloc countries and the Soviet Union, has been based in Prague since the 1990s. The station claims to reach nearly 50 million people weekly across regions with limited or non-existent press freedom, including Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.
The US decision, citing concerns over taxpayer money supporting "radical propaganda," resulted in hundreds of staff members losing access to their offices. However, European leaders argue that RFE/RL provides essential, independent news, and its closure would be "a gift to Europe's adversaries."
The Czech Permanent Representation to the European Union announced the initiative on social media, with more EU countries expected to join. The Polish presidency of the Council of the EU confirmed this momentum.
During a meeting of European affairs ministers, the future of RFE/RL was a key point of discussion. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, has committed to exploring EU funding options for the station, which reportedly has an annual budget of $150 million.
The collective European effort underscores the region's commitment to maintaining independent media and countering disinformation in areas where press freedom is under threat.
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