The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has released a statement on discussions that took place during its General Assembly today.
The EBU released a statement on discussions during its General Assembly, which is currently taking place in London. The statement comes after reports by Israeli media that Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest was being discussed at the event. Following Eurovision 2024, several broadcasters expressed their concerns about Israel’s participation in the contest and asked for a wider discussion about the issue.
The statement from the EBU reads as follows:
“At today’s EBU General Assembly, Members held an open and constructive discussion on the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and the increasingly complex global context in which it takes place.
The Assembly was a chance to celebrate the success of ESC 2025 – not just in terms of its record-breaking reach and engagement but in terms of its cultural resonance and ability to foster inclusivity, creativity, and a sense of belonging on a world stage.
But of course, despite its extraordinary success, the Eurovision Song Contest, like many other events, is not immune to the pressures of global politics. Questions around participation have become increasingly sensitive and multifaceted, and our Members hold a wide range of perspectives on these issues which they were able to express in detail today.
Members had a constructive exchange of views. There was a shared understanding that this is an unprecedentedly complex situation and there is a wide diversity of opinions.
Members also expressed their support for the work of the Israeli public broadcaster Kan and its independence, noting the pressure it is repeatedly experiencing from the Israeli government.
To help us navigate the current landscape, a former senior TV executive has now been invited to lead a structured and in-depth dialogue with our Member broadcasters in the coming weeks.
They will engage with Directors General and other stakeholders to gather insights on how we manage participation, geopolitical tensions, and how other organizations have approached similar challenges. They will report back with recommendations this autumn.
The EBU remains committed to transparency and will continue to keep Members informed of developments in the months ahead.”
Israel confirmed its intention to participate in Eurovision 2026 earlier this week.
Eurovision 2026
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to be held in Austria following the victory of JJ with “Wasted Love”. Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest for a third time, having won the 1966 and 2014 editions of the contest.
Image source: Corinne Cumming/EBU | Source: eurovision.tv
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Posted by:Neil Farren
Neil is from Ireland but has lived in several countries around Europe. He has has been an editor for Eurovoix since May 2017. He has been following the Eurovision Song Contest since 2005 and attended every contest as press since 2019. He also follows other Eurovision contests, such as the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which he has watched since the very first edition in 2003.