After Romanian broadcaster TVR withdrew from Eurovision 2024 due to financial difficulties, Romania is now considering its options for the upcoming contest in Basel. According to competition rules, a decision must be made by September 15th.

Following Montenegro’s surprise return to the contest last month, many hope that other countries, including Romania, will announce their comeback. At this stage, the Romanian national broadcaster states that all options are on the table, and they are still deliberating about participating in the contest. The decision regarding Eurovision participation must be made by this Sunday, September 15th, according to the timeline, with the option to withdraw without financial penalty valid until October 11th, leaving the Romanian broadcaster little time to decide.

The Withdrawal from Eurovision 2024

This deliberation comes after Romania chose not to participate in Eurovision 2024 last year. The indecision then led to extensive discussions and a time extension granted to Romania by the European Broadcasting Union. The board of directors (CA) ultimately decided to withdraw from the competition in a meeting held early last year: 5 voted in favor, 4 voted against, and 4 abstained, which was not enough to approve participation.

Part of the reason for withdrawal stems from budget issues, but that may not be the only factor. Romania has struggled to achieve high results in recent years, failing to qualify for the final for 5 years except for Eurovision 2022. In 2023, the country finished last in the competition for the first time, with 0 points in the semi-final.

Reasons for Romania’s Withdrawal

After Eurovision 2023, it was reported that Romania invested no less than 380,000 euros in the competition, significantly higher than Eurovision 2022. About a week after the publication, TVR submitted a supervised budget request to the Romanian Minister of Finance, and sources within the national broadcaster reported that Romania’s participation in the competition depends on budget approval. Two months after the publication, the Romanian government approved the annual government budget, which included a budget specifically allocated for participation in the competition. Ultimately, despite being given an extension for the Eurovision 2024 registration deadline by the EBU, and despite the budget already being approved by the government, the Romanian broadcaster was forced to withdraw from the competition.

This is not the first time Romania has withdrawn for financial reasons – in Eurovision 2016, Romania was disqualified from the competition after already selecting a song and representative, due to unpaid debts to the EBU.

Looking Ahead to Eurovision 2025

At this stage, it is still unclear how many countries will take part in the upcoming Eurovision. 28 countries have confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2025 so far, and several more countries are expected to confirm their participation soon. Romania’s decision will likely be made and announced in the near future.

Source: Eurovisionfun

Romania has participated in Eurovision 24 times since joining the competition in 1993. Romania has never won the contest, and its best achievement is third place, which it reached twice in 2005 and 2010.