Free Europe’s Romanian and Hungarian editorial offices faced closures due to US funding cuts, sparking EU discussions on media support.
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The Romanian editorial office of Free Europe was relaunched in 2018 with twenty journalists, matching the size of the Budapest office established in 2020. Previously, it provided content until Romania joined the EU in 2007, and its relaunch was attributed to significant disinformation pressure in the country. The Bucharest team covered topics such as fact-checking, NATO security policy, Russian influence, and corruption, with Free Europe being considered a highly credible source in Romanian media. Donald Trump signed a decree last March regarding the termination of the European editorial network. Following this US decision, EU foreign ministers discussed the future of these offices; Kaja Kallas stressed the EU’s responsibility for maintaining media services but noted member states could not automatically take over US funding. Claudia Plakolm warned that closing the radio would harm Europe by dismantling an independent media outlet operating since 1950 and reaching millions across multiple languages and countries. Before closing its Hungarian office in November, the head of the US Global Media Agency informed US representatives that the agency was ending its Hungarian service because it does not fund such initiatives at NATO allies. Reports suggest a decision to close the Bulgarian editorial office may also be made soon. The closure of the Hungarian office was announced last year, and the article previously explored the reasons behind the Trump administration’s interest in this closure.
