"May you all die" - this is the message that the Russian propagandist sent to the journalists of Radio Free Europe

Friday, Mar 21, 2025

HVG

US efforts to defund free radio stations face strong opposition from European politicians and media organizations.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

A campaign against Free Europe of Berlin, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of America has been ongoing in the United States, culminating in Donald Trump signing a decree on March 15th to halt the federal agency responsible for these organizations. Elon Musk supported this by stating that such editorial bodies are unnecessary, viewing them as wasteful or gathering places for extreme left-wing activists. European politicians and audiences strongly disagree with this stance. Following Trump’s announcement, EU foreign ministers discussed the future of Free Europe of Berlin; while the EU must support media services, member states cannot automatically take over US funding. Several politicians, including those from Czechia, Poland, and Austria, called for demonstrating commitment to press freedom and pluralism, warning that dismantling these independent outlets would benefit adversaries like Russia. Former officials noted that the cessation of funding is a “gift” to Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán, highlighting Free Europe’s role in providing reliable information about the war in Ukraine. Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavský stressed the need for quick assistance as content production could cease. Negotiations for new European funding are underway involving Czechia, Germany, Poland, and the three Baltic states. Despite assurances from Kaja Kallas regarding the importance of Free Europe of Berlin as a “beacon of democracy,” its significance has grown due to broadcasting in countries with limited public media access, such as North Korea. The US campaign was mirrored by state-controlled Russian television, which aired propaganda against journalists associated with the radio. In response, Free Europe of Berlin, Voice of America, and Radio Free Asia have filed a lawsuit against the Global Media Agency, claiming that withholding federal funds is illegal. While European solidarity exists, Russia continues its aggressive stance, with state media celebrating Trump’s decision to dismantle these organizations.

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PULSE is an initiative for cross-border collaborative journalism in Europe co-funded by the European Commission under Grant Agreement n. PO 4500158093.

PULSE is an initiative coordinated by OBCT that has been promoting intensive journalistic cross-border collaborations in Europe since 2024. Its main aim is to help strengthen the European public sphere by reporting on and telling stories from new and diverse perspectives.

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