EU Flag Banned at Eurovision Song Contest: European Commission Expresses Disappointment

The European Commission has reacted with disappointment to the banning of the EU flag at the Eurovision Song Contest final. According to Eurovision organizer EBU, this year’s Eurovision flag policy was no different than last year and will be reviewed next year.

The European Commission responds to a message on X from MEP Dorin Frasineanu last Saturday. He wrote that he was refused entry to the Eurovision Song Contest under the EU flag. “We were told by security that it is ‘political’ and ‘not allowed’. How can the EBU ban the EU flag at Europe’s biggest event?”

Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas called the ban of the flag “baffling” and “a gift to the enemies of Europe” in Politicp. The commissioner also said that the EBU’s decision to issue flags from countries other than those participating “for the first time” was well timed with next month’s European elections. Schinas said he could not “find the logical explanation” for the EBU’s decision. “And what’s the point of this?”

The EBU says otherwise politics that the flag policy this year was “the same as in 2023”. According to a spokesperson, this would mean fans could only bring flags of “participating countries and rainbow/pride flags”. However, Politico points out that dozens of EU flags were clearly visible in the crowd last year.

Schinas said he will discuss the issue with the EBU management. “I will talk to them. I will not let this pass,” he said. “I look for explanations and clarifications. “

In a statement, the EBU now reiterates that “as in previous years, such as 2023,” the policy of the SVT (Swedish public broadcaster) was the flags of the participating countries and bow flags to allow brown.

“A clear ban on the EU flag has never been included in the written policy. Due to increased geopolitical tensions, the flag policy was enforced more strictly by security this year. Together with our new host broadcaster, we will review the flag policy for 2025.” Next year the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Switzerland.