“Young Europeans should not need permission to wave their flag… If the EBU keeps it off the stage, let them make it the loudest symbol in the crowd!” This statement by Glenn Micallef, the EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, to Politico follows a consistent trend among EU officials to defend the EU’s symbols. He criticises the Eurovision organisers for banning the European flag from all official Eurovision spaces, including the stage, green room and turquoise carpet.
“The European flag represents our values, our identity, inclusion, and the citizenship of nearly half a billion people. If national flags belong on stage, then the European flag does too”. The exclusion of non-national flags from Eurovision designated areas only applies to participants in the competition. While artists may not be permitted to carry any flag other than their national flag, the audience may waive any flag, including the European flag.
Last year, however, the European flag and any non-national flags were not permitted for viewers either. In an attempt to keep the Malmö competition free from political controversy, non-national flags were banned completely, even for viewers, prompting a strong response from Brussels.
Margaritis Schinas, who was Vice-President of the European Commission at the time, had expressed the Commission’s criticism, accusing the Eurovision organisers of giving Eurosceptics and “Europe’s enemies” a gift by banning the European flag one month ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections. “Such actions cast a shadow over what is meant to be a joyous occasion for people across Europe”.
Fans attending Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, are allowed to bring and waive any flag they choose, provided it complies with Swiss law. This includes the European Union (EU) flag, various Pride flags, and even the Palestinian flag, which was restricted in the previous year.
Still, this was “not good enough” for the Commission, according to Commissioner for Culture Glenn Micallef, being at odds with Eurovision’s tradition of inclusivity and celebration of European identity.
Taking an apolitical stance and avoiding political messaging on stage in 2024, the Eurovision still roused political controversy. The European Broadcasting Union and the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, went a step further compared to 2024, by allowing non-national flags for non-Eurovision designated areas.
