The Netherlands is donating 3 million euros to Radio Free Europe

The Dutch government will donate 3 million euros to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), an American media organization with seven hundred permanent journalists who bring news in 27 languages ​​in 23 countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Minister Caspar Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs, NSC) announced this on Tuesday, before Prime Minister Dick Schoofed the cabinet’s resignation to the king. « With the donation, the Netherlands wants to enable RFE/RL to continue their important work. » The Dutch contribution follows a European statement of support.

Radio Free Europe (RFE) and Radio Liberty (RL), originally two channels, are the remains of the Cold War. They were founded and funded by the American intelligence service CIA in the fight against communism and communist ideas. The channels must propagate the Western position. Later the channels merged, which were forbidden in the Eastern Bloc and whose activities were kept closely monitored. In 1995 the head office moved from Munich to Prague.

‘Maximum cuts’

President Donald Trump presented the financing of the channels, who grew into instruments after the fall of the wall public diplomacyin March in loose screws. He signed a presidential decree in which was called for a « maximum » austerity on the agency for global media. This not only had consequences for RFE/RL, but also for other news organizations that receive money from the American congress, such as Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

Unlike Voice of America (a federal entity), the latter three news organizations are non-profit organizations. Trump frozen the money that the congress had cleared for them. RFE/RL complained to this the agency for global media in an attempt to get the money on the money. This led to a dragging legal battle that is still ongoing.

But in the meantime, the channel urgently needed money to keep operating. Two weeks ago, the European Union already announced an emergency injection of 5 million euros. « This support is not only for journalism-it’s for democracy itself, » said EU-Buitenland chef Kaja Kallas.

After Trump’s decree, Voice of America was forced to send almost all of her staff on paid leave and stop her publications and broadcasts – was founded for the first time since the channel was founded in 1942. It is the oldest and largest of the international American broadcasters and makes content in 48 languages. In May, the Voice of America director appointed by Trump announced that One America News, an extreme right-wing and Trumpist channel that promotes conspiracy theories, will provide free reporting on Voice of America.

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