The Council of the European Union on Friday has decided to suspend the broadcasting activities of four Russia-associated media outlets within the EU.

The decision targets Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta, citing their alleged role in spreading and supporting "Russian propaganda" and "aggression against Ukraine."

"The Council today decided to suspend the broadcasting activities in the European Union of four additional media outlets, which spread and support the Russian propaganda and war of aggression against Ukraine: Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta," stated the council in a document.

Despite the ban on broadcasting, the EU mentioned that the measures would not impede the targeted media outlets and their staff from conducting other activities within the EU, such as research and interviews.

"In line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the measures agreed today will not prevent the targeted media outlets and their staff from carrying out activities in the EU other than broadcasting, e.g. research and interviews," the statement clarified.

The decision to suspend the broadcasting of these Russian media outlets will take effect on May 18, as stated in the document published in the EU's Official Journal. 

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A survey published last year by Statista revealed some shocking results about the levels of public trust toward European journalists. The results came in light of several reports issued by the European press to conceal Washington's involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline.

Data showed that Finland ranks first among European countries with the highest levels of trust toward European journalism (69%), followed by Portugal (61%), then Denmark (58%), and the Netherlands (56%).

On the lowest spectrum are included the UK (34%), Spain (32%), France (29%), Greece (27%), and a number of eastern European countries. 

In the UK, journalists were found to be trusted slightly more than politicians and real estate agents. In France, where social unrest has been rampant, a survey conducted by ViaVoice found that 54% of people said that the quality of information has "deteriorated" in recent years.

Of these people, 70% said this is owed to the fact that information is "too biased" and "not impartial enough." Another reason was that "information is sometimes false and too quickly relayed."