L-R: Guy Antony, Mond op asbl; Prime Minister Xavier Bettel; Lex Thiel, Mond op asbl; Credit: Ministry of State

On Wednesday 19 May 2021, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, in his capacity as Minister for Communications and Media, signed a multi-year agreement with Radio ARA, providing stable funding for the years 2021 to 2025. 

In an official statement, Luxembourg's Department of Media, Telecommunications and Digital Policy noted the importance of having a varied, pluralist and independent media landscape in the Grand Duchy.

Radio ARA will thus obtain stable funding through 2025, aimed at allowing it to develop the following missions as defined in the new agreement:

- the dissemination of programming that reflects the country's social, cultural and artistic news;
- taking into account the widest possible audience with regard to age group, cultural, social and linguistic diversity;
- contribution to intercultural dialogue;
- the establishment of media education activities;
- encouraging the voluntary participation of citizens;
- the respect of ethical journalistic practices according to the standards established by the code of ethics of the Press Council.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel congratulated Radio ARA on its efforts to establish itself as a central citizen platform representing various interests and social groups, reaching out to the general public while including communities that are little served by other media. He noted the role played by the radio station during the COVID-19 pandemic by broadcasting multilingual information programmes, which are recognised at the international level and confirmed Radio ARA as a key player in guaranteeing the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information.

Lisa McLean, spokesperson for Radio ARA, commented in a statement: "We are pleased to have signed an agreement with the government. We didn’t receive the amount we had asked for, but in the current climate that is also understandable. The financial aid we receive will make a huge difference to stabilising our current financial situation. And some of the money will go immediately to solving technical problems that we have been experiencing, and getting permanent technical support".