Every year when The Eurovision Song Contest is approaching The same doubt arises, although depending on the international situation it focuses on one country or another. In 2024, the focus is largely on Israel, which is waging an open war against Hamas on Palestinian soil that at the end of April had already left nearly 34,800 dead and more than 78,200 injured, mainly civilians. In fact, the song that the country chose to be performed at the festival, ‘October Rain’, was in doubt as it was considered too political for the occasion.

Israel’s public television gave its approval for the song to go to Eurovision, although the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the festival, preferred that Tel Aviv participate with another theme. Finally, Israel’s participation in the 2024 festival with ‘Hurricane’ was approved , but also with controversy. Why is Israel yes, but Russia no? In 2022, the EBU decided to leave Moscow out of the competition after the invasion of Ukraine, although they had previously assured that the festival was a “cultural event of a non-political nature.”

And yes, every year, politics also enters Eurovision. Israel is not part of Europe, but participates in Eurovision. But it is not the only one: they also do it, for example, Armenia (Asia) or Australia (Oceania), which is playing for its place in the grand final in the first Eurovision semi-final which takes place in Malmö (Sweden) on Tuesday, May 7.

The Eurovision organization does not depend on nor is it financed by the EU

The reason that allows Israel and Australia to sing at the European festival is in the festival’s own rules. It must be taken into account that Eurovision It is not a festival organized by the European Unionbut by the EBU, which is a corporation that brings together public radio broadcasters from different countries. The EBU is neither dependent nor financed by the EU.

The EBU has three types of members: assets, which contribute an annual rate; associates and participants. Currently, the European Broadcasting Union has audiovisual representation from 56 countries in Europe, the Mediterranean basin and Western Asia, among which is the Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision (SNRT) of Morocco or the Israel Broadcasting Corporation. In addition, it has more than thirty associate members, among which are the ABC of Australia or several corporations from the United States, and all of these can participate in certain EBU meetings or attend some assemblies, but They do not have free access to Eurovision.

Authorized participants are much smaller in number; in 2024, the EBU only has six, two of them from Spain (Cellnex and Catalunya Música), and their participation is relegated to specific areas. And no, these corporations cannot attend the EBU assemblies or access the exchange networks, that is, neither Euroradio nor Eurovision.

So why is Australia participating in Eurovision?

Israel is integrated into the EBU as an active member, so you have the full right to participate in the contest. But Australia does not enjoy this privilege and yet has been acting for years. Australia’s Eurovision journey began in 2014, although the Australian corporation SBS has been broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest on television for decades.

The first time Australia entered Eurovision it did not do so as a participating country: Jessica Mauboy came as guest singer during the contest. The following year, in 2015, the EBU invited Australia to compete for the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, as a ‘wild card’ country, in order to “build bridges.” And that year, Australia sent Guy Sebastianwhich left the country in fifth position, as explained by the Australian ABC itself.

Since 2015, Australia’s participation in Eurovision has been evaluated year by year. But in 2019, the Australian corporation reached an agreement with the EBU so that the country could remain in the festival until 2023. After this period, the SBS made public that it was in talks with the EBU to guarantee Australia’s participation in the next editions, although it only confirmed the country’s presence in the 2024 festival.