European Union foreign ministers discussed possible European support for Radio Free Europe after the US government decided to suspend funding, raising concerns about the suppression of pro-democracy voices.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky raised the topic at a meeting in Brussels on March 17, while RFE/RL's future is uncertain due to a cut in funding approved by Congress, which was suspended by President Donald Trump's administration over the weekend.
A diplomatic source familiar with the discussion told RFE/RL that Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have expressed support for the idea.
The source added that since the item was raised at the end of the meeting in the "miscellaneous" category, "it cannot be concluded that others did not support it."
Another source said that the meeting discussed the fact that shutting down Radio Free Europe "would be a gift to Europe's opponents" and that the media outlet was "an institution, not a temporary project, and its shutdown would be irreparable damage to democratic aspirations around the world."
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 14 that aims to make cuts to seven federal agencies, including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Radio Free Europe, among others.
The order, signed March 14, also includes agencies dealing with homeless issues, labor disputes and community development.
A few hours after the executive order was issued, the media reported a letter from USAGM stating that the grant that Congress had approved to fund RFE/RL had been terminated.
RFE/RL President and CEO Steve Kapus said that canceling the grant agreement would be "a huge gift to America's enemies." The same sentiment was echoed by many media rights organizations, democracy advocates, and politicians around the world.
Lipavski said before the meeting with EU ministers that he would ask his colleagues whether they "see value" in an organization like RFE/RL "and if we see such value, what are we prepared to do to keep such a service available, for our benefit?"
He added that the EU should begin preparations to be ready in case they decide to act, because "we don't know how the situation will develop on the American side and we don't know what the options are."
"For us, people living under tyranny, RFE/RL and Voice of America are symbols of the free world – voices of truth," Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya wrote on X. "Many, like journalist Igor Losik, are in prison for working with them. For us, they are powerful tools of soft power that strengthen and protect America. Losing them would be a huge mistake."
Losik, a blogger and contributor to the Belarusian editorial office of Radio Free Europe, was sentenced in December 2021 to 15 years in prison on charges of "organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order."
He is one of four journalists and contributors to Radio Free Europe, along with Vladislav Jesipenko, Nika Novak, and Farid Mehralizad, who are currently in prison for their work.
Last year, the Russian government declared RFE/RL an "undesirable organization," which made it impossible for them to operate in Russia and exposed anyone who cooperates with RFE/RL to potential criminal prosecution.
"We call on the EU to support media freedom by standing with Radio Free Europe," said Renew Europe, a pro-European centrist political group in the European Parliament.
USAGM is an independent agency of the U.S. government that oversees the broadcasting of news and information in nearly 50 languages to approximately 361 million people each week.
The budget request for USAGM for this fiscal year was $950 million (€870 million) to fund all operations and capital investments.
These include media outlets such as Radio Free Europe, Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, the Cuban Broadcasting Office (Radio Marti), the Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), and the Open Technology Fund.
"We see these media outlets as true beacons of truth, democracy and hope for millions of people around the world. Of course, in an era of unmoderated content and fake news, journalism and media freedom are essential for democracy, and this decision risks benefiting our common adversaries," said European Commission spokesperson Audia Paula Pinjo.
Trump, who has taken several moves to reduce government spending since returning to the White House, clashed with USAGM over editorial independence during his first term.
After he took office again, he reiterated that concern. Advocates of the media say they are an important adjunct to American diplomacy.
In addition to USAGM, the order targets the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars at the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute for Museum and Literary Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency.
Bonus video:
