Czech Republic seeks EU support for radio free Europe after US cuts

The Czech Republic is appealing for European Union support to sustain Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) after the Trump administration slashed funding for the US-backed broadcaster.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky warned that the cuts threaten a vital source of independent journalism in authoritarian states. “RFE/RL is one of the few credible sources in dictatorships like Iran, Belarus, and Afghanistan,” he said.

For decades, RFE/RL has served as a key outlet for independent reporting in regions where state-controlled media dominate. During the Cold War, the broadcaster, funded by the US government, reached millions in Eastern Europe, playing a critical role in spreading democratic values.

The decision to cut RFE/RL’s funding came as part of broader cost-cutting measures spearheaded by Elon Musk, a key figure in Trump’s administration. Musk dismissed the broadcaster as “radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money.”

With Washington pulling back, Prague is urging Brussels to step in.

“The EU must recognize RFE/RL’s importance in the fight against disinformation,” Lipavsky said.

European officials have yet to signal whether they will allocate funds to sustain the broadcaster. However, some analysts argue that EU support could bolster media independence and counter authoritarian propaganda in key regions.

The funding dispute comes at a critical moment, as RFE/RL faces mounting pressure from regimes hostile to its reporting. The Czech government insists that without new support, a vital pillar of free speech could be lost in some of the world’s most repressive nations.