Picture credits: © Alma Bengtsson / EBU It seems that the controversies surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2024 are endless. Now, it’s the ban on European Union flags in the arena during the grand final that is causing a stir.
A source from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) assures that the rules were the same as last year’s, allowing only flags of participating countries or rainbow/pride flags. The truth is that EU flags were seen in 2023.
And Brussels did not take kindly to the situation. The Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, strongly criticized the EBU, telling Politico: “It’s mind-blowing, what the EBU did. 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? Only the Euroskeptics and the enemies of Europe”.
A spokesperson for the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also reacted: “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”.
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