The Flemish TV1-producer Steve De Coninck-De Boeck told eurosong.be that the second edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will not be hosted by the winning country of this year's edition. The 2004 edition will take place in London, hosted by broadcaster ITV.

Meanwhile, Germany and Slovakia announced they will not participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

15 countries will participate in the new contest, which will take place for the first time at November 15th 2003 in Copenhagen: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, FYR Macedonia, Greece, United Kingdom, Latvia, Malta, The Nederlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Belarus.