EU to provide emergency funding for Radio Free Europe

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the bloc will provide €5.5 million ($6.2 million) to help Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) continue its broadcasts after U.S. funding was frozen.

"This will support the vital work of Radio Free Europe," Kallas stated to journalists following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. "It's short-term emergency funding designed as a safety net for independent journalism."

In March, U.S. President Donald Trump suspended funding for RFE/RL along with other U.S. broadcasters, including Voice of America, as part of a plan to cut government spending. RFE/RL, which employs over 1,700 staff, challenged this decision in court and recently secured a temporary restraining order. However, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has not yet disbursed the necessary funds.

Kallas clarified that the EU funding will not cover the outlet's global operations but will focus on countries in regions like the Caucasus and Central Asia. "It's clear that Europe can't provide all the funding needed," she said. "Our priority should be to help Radio Free Europe operate in neighboring countries that rely heavily on external news."