A New Country Is Now Eligible To Compete In Eurovision

Canada is now eligible to take part in the Eurovision song contest. That’s because it’s now a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). All competing countries have to have broadcasters that are member of that union.

Canada was officially given a spot after a vote in the EBU’s 96th General Assembly, held in Prague on Thursday 25 June.

It comes just over a month after Eurovision boss Martin Green said the door is open for Canada to join the competition and suggested the country was “eyeing a spot” in the contest.

Canada’s broadcasters have long been close to the EBU. The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) was considered an “associate member” until the vote.

Noel Curran, Director General of the EBU, said: “CBC/Radio-Canada has been part of the EBU family since our foundation in 1950. As one of the world’s leading public broadcasters, it has already contributed hugely to our Union – helping us set and uphold the standards of public service journalism that matter most right now.

“Full Membership means we can now do even more together: on platform accountability, on trusted news, on the resilience that public broadcasters need to build for the years ahead. Canada’s voice in this community makes us stronger.”

Leon Mar, a spokesperson for CBC and Radio Canada, hasn’t confirmed whether they really will appear in the show. He said in an email: “We’ll have more to say about the Eurovision Song Contest later”.

Despite its name, Eurovision has long had non-European participants. These include Australia, which has been in the game since 2015, Morocco (who joined once in 1980), and Israel (since 1973).

Recently, multiple countries have pulled out of the competition due to Israel’s involvement, citing the ongoing violence in Gaza. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland withdrew from this year’s show.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ said they remain “deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory”. 

Dutch broadcaster Avrotros “noted that the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, the restrictions on press freedom, and the political interference surrounding the most recent edition of the Song Contest were incompatible with the values we stand for”. 

Meanwhile, Belgian broadcaster VRT said “The chances are slim that VRT will send an artist next year.

“We expect a strong message from the EBU against war and violence and in favour of respect for human rights. These are the values that should unite the festival, and at the moment they are being overshadowed far too much.”

At the time, the CEO of Israel’s national broadcaster KAN was quoted as saying: “The attempt to remove KAN from the contest can only be understood as a cultural boycott.

“A boycott may begin today with Israel, but no one knows where it will end or who else it may harm. Are EBU members willing to be part of a step that harms freedom of creation and freedom of expression?”