Donald Trump’s administration is planning to spend $4 million to bolster right-wing media in Europe, part of a package of at least $25 million for civil society groups working on conservative causes in the region, according to four people familiar with the funding.
The grants risk deepening tensions between the Trump administration and European governments, some of which have already accused Washington of interfering in their domestic politics.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) says the funding is meant to strengthen transatlantic ties and promote free speech. It comes as European countries prepare for elections over the next couple of years, and as the Trump administration openly backs Europe’s populist right-wing and far-right parties.
The situation of Roma and relative groups in Europe differs quite a lot from country to country, not so much because some societies are so much more racist than others but because of size and history and local circumstances. Austrian Roma are largely integrated in the larger society and while there has been racusm and even terrorism against them in the past they are pretty much not much talked about, not even by the FPÖ. Romanian Roma are, but primarily due to their organised begging business.