During the 11th Television Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union, which took place at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech. Svante Stockselius, supervisor of the contest, and Ruurd Bierman, head of the Reference Group, moderated a discussion about the Eurovision Song Contest.
Key issue of the short debate was the EBU's involvement in the national selections. Alhtough the EBU demands transparancy, several of this year's national selections can be considered as 'questionable'.
Currently, the national broadcaster of each participating country is responsible for choosing a Eurovision Song Contest entry. EBU members brought to the table that more strictly defined rules about national selections might prevent the contest from being connected with national selection scandals.
“”There was a short debate, but no conclusions were drawn on the national finals. The present format of the Eurovision Song Contest will be evaluated by the Reference Group and the TV Committee after Kyiv. In Marrakech there was support for this approach”, Reference Group head Ruurd Bierman said.
This year, the EBU has been asked several times to investigate national selections and songs. With the issue now raised, it is likely to be on the agenda for the upcoming Reference Group meetings.
