The EBU speaks loud and clear about whether it has banned the presence of the EU flag at Eurovision

The Director General of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Noel Curran, assured this Thursday that the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest has not imposed any specific ban on the EU flag at the venue and He attributed his veto last Saturday to more strictly enforced security measures Compared to other years.

In a letter to European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, who earlier this week demanded the EBU to explain why the EU flag was not allowed at the Eurovision Song Contest, Curran said that, in general, , It is only allowed to participate with the flags of the participating countries and the rainbow flag symbolizing the LGTBIQ+ community.

“In 2024 it becomes the case that, as a result of the sensitive global political context and serious security risks on the ground, The list of approved national flags at the entrance of the venue and other security measures have been enforced more strictly than ever before“explains the letter published by Shinas in X.

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,We wish to clarify that there has never been an explicit veto of the EU flag in the Eurovision Song Contest And this has been clearly visible in previous editions,” Curran stressed in the letter, in which he noted the “challenges” involved in the “management and logistics” of a show of “this size and complexity.”

Director General assures that Eurovision Song Contest will be shared “Same values ​​of universality, diversity, equity and inclusivity” of the European Union itself and emphasized that it is the most watched non-sporting event in Europe each year.

“We want to assure you that it was never our intention to denigrate the EU flag as an important symbol of European unity and solidarity. We will be sure to review our policy for next year“, leaves the letter.

Schinas, who shared the EBU’s response this Thursday and said he “appreciates” its positive tone, urged that Brussels’ doubts be dispelled before next Thursday the 23rd, the day of the European elections. The main candidates’ debate will take place and is traditionally broadcast by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).