The European Commission has expressed anger over a ban on EU flags at the Eurovision Song Contest and demands explanations. #EuropeNews

The European Commission has expressed anger over a ban on EU flags at the Eurovision Song Contest and demands explanations.

The allegations, made by several spectators who attended the Grand Final on Saturday and were told off for carrying the flags, quickly turned viral and prompted a stern rebuke from Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas.

“Eurovision is first and foremost a celebration of European spirit, of our European diversity and talent. The EU flag is a symbol of this,” Schinas said on X on Saturday evening.

“Less than a month to the European elections, there should be no obstacles, big or small, to celebrating what unites all Europeans.”

  • Ben Hur Horse Race@lemm.eeEnglish
    162·
    6 months ago

    can you think of any other countries that the EU flag wouldn’t represent who were getting boo’d and are also home to Eurovision’s biggest corporate sponsor?

    • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
      31·
      6 months ago

      I don’t know what you’re referring to, but if it’s the UK, you’ve got the Flag of Europe-also-represents-the-Council-of-Europe case, and the UK is in that.

      I guess Belarus isn’t in the Council of Europe. And Russia is either out or suspended or something. I don’t know what the situation is with them, but apparently they both also got kicked out of Eurovision, so kind of an academic question.

      EDIT: Yeah, Russia is out of the Council of Europe.

        • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
          41·
          6 months ago

          ISRAEL

          Ah, fair enough. And speaking of Moroccan Oil, looking at Wikipedia, Morocco has apparently also competed, and also isn’t in the Council of Europe or European Union:

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest

          Israel’s first win in 1978 proved controversial for Arab states broadcasting the contest which would typically cut to advertisements when Israel performed due to a lack of recognition of the country, and when it became apparent Israel would win many of these broadcasters cut the feed before the end of the voting.[316][317][318] Arab states which are eligible to compete have declined to participate due to Israel’s presence, with Morocco the only Arab state to have entered Eurovision, competing for the first, and as of 2023 the only time, in 1980 when Israel was absent.[319][320]

          • mondoman712@lemmy.mlEnglish
            1·
            6 months ago

            Moroccanoil is an israeli company. The connection to Morocco is that they co-opted a Moroccan product and sell it under their name. There’s no reason to believe that their sponsorship would influence a potential Moroccan entrant.

          • SuperIce@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            6 months ago

            Really the only requirement for Eurovision is to be part of the European Broadcasting Union, which extends out of Europe. Hence the inclusion of countries like Israel, Azerbaijan, and even Australia.

            • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
              1·
              6 months ago

              Australia is an associated member, same status as the US, any ITU member can be one.

              They’re special-cased for the contest because they’ve been watching the thing religiously for decades. And I’m deeply disappointed that they never flipped their vote presenter upside-down.

      • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
        22·
        6 months ago

        None of the southern Mediterranean states are in the CoE, the EBU has a larger catchment area than the CoE: E.g. Morocco is a founding member. There’s the UfM, that one could get a flag and flying the flag of the African Union should also be perfectly acceptable.