TVR, the Romanian national broadcaster has confirmed to ESCToday that Romania will return to the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

Yes we will see Romania return to our beloved contest next year in Kyiv after a year’s absence! TVR will yet again use its traditional national selection Selectia Nationala in order to deliberate its Eurovision act and entry for Kyiv.

TVR has confirmed Romania’s participation at the forthcoming 2017 Eurovision Song Contest via a press release issued by the broadcasters communication department stating that TVR and the EBU are currently working together in order to resolve the financial issues afflicting the broadcaster. TVR has a debt of around 10 million euros, which will be paid in the course of the next 3 years.

Both the Romanian broadcaster and the EBU have come to agreement after holding negotiations to allow TVR the right to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest and the forthcoming 2018 and 2022 Football World Cups.

In 2016 Romania selected its Eurovision act and entry via a national selection. Ovidiu Anton won the golden ticket to Stockholm with his entry Moment of silence. Unfortunately Romania was not allowed to compete in the contest due to its overdue debt with the EBU. The EBU withdrew TVR’s member services due to a non payment of debt mounting up to 16 million CHF.

Romania debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and is yet to win the competition. The country achieved its best result in the contest in 2005 and 2010 when it placed 3rd.

Luminita Anghel in 2005 achieved an honorable 3rd place for Romania at ESC.

So far 39 countries confirmed their intention to participate at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.

The period for countries to apply for participation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest concluded on 15 September. Applicant countries had a grace period until 10 October to decide if they were to stay or not in the competition without facing a financial penalty.

The final and confirmed list of the ESC 2017 participating countries is expected to be released by the EBU by the end of the year.

The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 9, 11 and 13 May at the IEC in Kyiv, Ukraine.