The European Parliament held a debate on April 1 regarding the future of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), following the U.S. decision to halt its funding through the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos emphasized the need to protect RFE/RL, warning that failing to do so would be a gift to autocrats worldwide.
The debate was triggered by Donald Trump’s executive order cutting funds to USAGM, which oversees RFE/RL. While the funding suspension was later reversed, the agency did not transfer the allocated funds, forcing RFE/RL to place employees on administrative leave as of April 1.
Some EU lawmakers proposed that the EU should step in to provide long-term financial stability for RFE/RL. Portuguese MEP Sebastiao Bugalho stated, “We will pay the price and take on the burden.” Similarly, Lithuanian MEP Virginijus Sinkevicius called for sustainable EU funding.
However, right-wing populist MEPs opposed the idea, arguing that media should not be funded by EU institutions. German MEP Mary Khan (AfD) insisted that RFE/RL should be self-financed, while Slovak MEP Milan Uhrik suggested that EU funds should instead support struggling farmers.
No final decision was made, but EU lawmakers pledged to monitor the situation closely, leaving open the possibility of an EU-backed funding mechanism for RFE/RL.
