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Hard criticism against EBU’s flag stop in controversial Eurovision

by AI | 13.May 2024 | Europe in brief AI

When the EBU decided that the audience at Eurovision in Malmö would only be allowed to wave the flags of the participating countries, even the EU flag was banned from being included. This has caused considerable anger in Brussels.

Nemo, who represented Switzerland with the song "The Code", won the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Stopped EU flags at the ESC final in Malmö cause EU outrage.

“This is the first time they are doing this. It happens before the EU election, which makes it even more suspicious,” says EU Commissioner Margaritis Schinas to Politico Europe.

The rules were the same last year. Despite this, loads of EU flags were seen in the crowd at last year’s contest in Liverpool, while this year, audiences reported that they were not allowed to bring the same flags.

Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, due to the war against Hamas in Gaza, has led to protests in Malmö, both before and during the music competition. 

The fact that the hosting European Broadcasting Union EBU has banned flags from nations other than the competing ones in the arena – except for the Pride flag – has attracted attention, as Palestinian flags were not allowed to be brought in by the audience.

The banning of the EU flag leads Schinas to draw parallels to Ukraine’s struggle for independence.

“People were shot and killed at Maidan for waving EU flags. Who gains from banning the EU flag at Eurovision? Only the EU skeptics and enemies of Europe,” says the commissioner who promises to raise the issue with EBU on Monday.

“I will not let it pass,” says Schinas.

(May 13)