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.”

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    71·
    2 months ago

    “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.”

    Not all participants are in the EU. Strictly-speaking, you can maybe argue that the identical flag also applies to most non-EU members as the Flag of Europe, given that pretty much everyone is in the Council of Europe, but it probably still won’t cover Australia.

    That being said, I mean, I don’t really see the problem of someone holding the EU flag if they can hold their national flag. I mean, a flag doesn’t have to apply to everyone.

    Besides, the thing is “Eurovision” already, not “Euroaustraliovision”. If you want the venue to be some sort of generic thing decoupled from Europe, you’ve already done the branding wrong in rather more-significant ways.

    • Ben Hur Horse Race@lemm.eeEnglish
      101·
      2 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
        21·
        2 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
            31·
            2 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]