EU accuses Eurovision bosses of handing “win” to “enemies of Europe” with flag ban

nme.com:

Eurovision bosses of handing a “win” to “enemies of Europe” with the decision to ban EU flags at the 2024 final.News broke earlier this year that the song contest would be banning any flags being held up other than those of the countries competing in the competition.

This included the show of Palestinian flags – amid the conflict in Gaza – and EU flags.Now, speaking with Politico’s Brussels Playbook after Saturday’s finale (May 11), Schinas has described the move as “mind-blowing”, and criticised it as being ill-timed given next month’s European election and amid thousands of Georgian protesters gathering in Tbilisi in support of the democratic values the EU represents.“I cannot find the logical explanation for why the EBU is doing this.

And what does this serve? Less than a month from the European elections, who wins from banning the EU flag from Eurovision?” the commissioner said. “Only the Euroskeptics and the enemies of Europe.”A spokesperson for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shared a similar sentiment, adding: “It is certainly regrettable to ban the flag that is the flag of all the EU members and other Council of Europe members taking part in the contest and often flies alongside national flags on public buildings.”In response to the backlash, an EBU spokesperson has stated that the flag policy at the 2024 edition of the song contest was “the same as in 2023,” with fans only permitted to bring flags of “participating countries and the rainbow/pride flags.”That being said, Politico has highlighted that last year’s recording of the contest clearly showed EU flags in the audience, when the event was held in Liverpool.Schinas concluded by stating that he would raise the matter with EBU management on today.