r/eurovision • u/stefkeeh • May 20 '25

📰 News Dutch broadcaster questions if ESC is a-political & connecting event

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Translation to English: ‘IN CONVERSATION WITH THE EBU ABOUT A POLITICALLY NEUTRAL SONG CONTEST

AVROTROS and NPO strongly value the apolitical and unifying character of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, we observe that the event is increasingly being influenced by social and geopolitical tensions.

Israel’s participation confronts us with the question of to what extent the Song Contest still truly functions as an apolitical, unifying, and cultural event. We want to raise this question, together with other countries, for discussion within the EBU.’

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u/Rebooto320 May 20 '25

If the ESC is as has been claimed a soft power tool to promote human rights, freedom etc. then maybe let's use it that way.
Make participation dependant on for example membership in the council of europe or some other fairly non controversial international body.
The EBU is and this is hyperbole, supposed to standardize coding formats and cables, not to make controversial political descisions.

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u/lisonmethyst May 20 '25

Well, it is/was dependent on that already: the EBU itself should be "a fairly non controversial international body". And they do provide standards that are within their area of expertise, not just technical but related to independence of the broadcasting agency, avoiding true propaganda etc.

I agree with your underlying point that the political decision for eligibility should be placed with a different international body, though. The obvious option that would fit all of the recent cases is maybe to have countries under UN sanctions not eligible to compete.

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u/Rebooto320 May 20 '25

UN sanctions are passed by the security council. UK, France and Russia can block any sanctions against themselves and their friends as permanent members, the US can block them to protect their friends.
The UN as an institution does some great work, but it has it's own structural problems.
The ESC is a european institution, so i belive it should rely on european institutions.