EU accuses Eurovision bosses of giving a gift to ‘enemies of Europe’ by banning the flag – POLITICO

A spokeswoman for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also criticized the EBU’s decision, saying: “It is certainly regrettable to ban the flag which is the flag of all EU members and other members of the Council of Europe participating in the competition and which often flies alongside national flags on public buildings.

Schinas told Playbook: “I can’t find a logical explanation as to why the EBU is doing this. And what is this for ?

“With less than a month until the European elections, who will win by banning the European flag from Eurovision? added the commissioner. “Only Eurosceptics and enemies of Europe.”

An EBU spokesperson said the Eurovision flag policy this year was “the same as in 2023”, with fans only allowed to bring the flags of “participating countries and rainbow flags”. “rainbow/pride”. But recordings of last year’s event clearly show dozens of EU flags in the audience.

Schinas said he would raise the issue with the EBU leadership on Monday. “I’ll talk to them. I won’t let this go,” he said. “I will ask for explanations and clarifications.”

Nemo, a 24-year-old Swiss rapper who sang about his self-discovery as a non-binary person, won Eurovision 2024.