Has the pressure worked? After Ireland’s demands to exclude Israel from Eurovision 2025, the EBU has agreed to hold a formal discussion. All the latest details inside!
Following consistent pressure and repeated calls from Ireland to reopen the debate over Israel’s participation, Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, announced it has secured a commitment from the EBU to hold a “broader discussion amongst members” regarding Israel’s inclusion in the contest.
Key Meeting: Ireland Presents Its Concerns
On Friday, Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ’s Director-General, together with Steve Carson, RTÉ’s Director of Video, held a crucial meeting with EBU representatives. In a statement released afterward, RTÉ noted:
“Kevin Bakhurst and Steve Carson met today with the EBU and raised RTÉ’s concerns. There is a commitment from the EBU to have a wider discussion amongst members in due course.”
This meeting followed Bakhurst’s earlier remarks this week:
“Notwithstanding the fact that the criterion for participating in the Eurovision Song Contest is membership of the European Broadcasting Union, RTÉ has nonetheless asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion in the contest.”
RTÉ’s Full Statement: A Detailed Breakdown
RTÉ issued a comprehensive statement outlining the timeline and developments:
“Further to the comments from RTÉ Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst on Wednesday 7th May – included below – in which he asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest and to his confirmation yesterday that RTÉ will not be withdrawing from this year’s Eurovision, Kevin Bakhurst has confirmed that he, along with RTÉ’s Director of Video, Steve Carson had a meeting today with the EBU and raised RTÉ’s concerns. There is a commitment from the EBU to have a wider discussion amongst members in due course.”
EBU’s Position: Listening—But No Immediate Changes
The EBU released its own official statement, clarifying the next steps:
“We can confirm we had a conversation with RTÉ and have listened to their concerns. The EBU will continue to listen to all members. As we did in 2024, we will have a broader discussion when the contest concludes with all participating broadcasters to reflect on all aspects of this year’s event.”
The statement makes it clear that no discussion will occur before the conclusion of the competition, set to take place next week in Basel, Switzerland—with semi-finals on May 13 and 15, and the grand final on May 17. Still, this marks the first time the EBU has officially committed to discussing the matter. Will that discussion actually materialize? Stay tuned.
Recent Developments and Public Pressure
This latest move is part of a wider chain of events over recent weeks. Irish journalists had also urged their national broadcaster to file an official objection against Israel’s participation. However, the EBU emphasized that no national broadcaster has officially opposed Israel’s participation. Martin Green, the contest’s director, previously stated:
“The EBU is aligned with other international groups that have maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions.” He also made it clear that Israel’s participation was not up for debate at this time.
Ireland Stays In: No Withdrawal Planned
Despite the mounting pressure, Kevin Bakhurst reiterated in multiple interviews that Ireland has no plans to withdraw from the competition. “We absolutely won’t pull out of Eurovision,” he stated. “I just wanted to voice our concerns. I want to have a discussion with them.” He added: “It is a very complicated issue, and I am well aware that a number of EBU members would not be in favor of excluding Israel.”
Ireland in Eurovision 2025
“Laika Party” is the title of the song to be performed by EMMY, who will represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. The song was co-written by the singer along with Erlend Guttulsrud Kristiansen, Henrik Østlund, Larissa Tormey, and Truls Marius Aarra. This marks the first Eurovision entry for the other songwriters. The song is performed in English.
The song tells the story of Laika, the first dog in space, imagining for her eternal life and a perpetual party in the skies. The song portrays Laika as a heroic figure who made an important contribution to humanity by her journey into space. It expresses appreciation and love for the dog sent on an unknown space mission and never returned. It conveys a longing and a wish that she is still alive, roaming space, and enjoying eternal positive experiences. In the chorus, there is a feeling of hope and a wish that Laika continues to live a joyful life in space, participating in an endless party among the stars. The song attempts to give a positive image to the character of Laika and invites the listeners to share the sense of wonder and admiration for human achievements in space exploration, while raising questions about the moral cost of such experiments.
Currently, Ireland is ranked 18th on the betting odds ahead of Eurovision 2025.
Who is EMMY?
Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen, born September 13, 2000, known by the stage name EMMY, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. In her childhood, her mother sang in a choir and EMMY developed an interest in music from a young age. Her older brother, Erlend, participated in the youth music program “MGPjr,” and in 2015, EMMY also participated in the program with the song “Aiaiaiai“.
In 2021, EMMY participated in the Norwegian national selection “Melodi Grand Prix,” advancing to the finals after competing in the third semi-final with the song “Witch Woods,” but did not make it to the top four. In 2024, EMMY was involved as a creator in the song “Woman Show” performed by Mathilde SPZ, Chris Archer, and Slam Dunk. This marks the first Eurovision entry for the other songwriters. The song is performed in English. Beyond her activities in Norway, EMMY has gained an international fan base through her TikTok account, where she has reached over a million followers.
Source: irishtimes, about.rte.ie
Eurovision 2025: This will be Ireland’s 58th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Ireland joined the competition in 1965 and has won it seven times over the years, holding the record for most wins alongside Sweden. Ireland’s last victory was in Eurovision 1996 with the song “The Voice” performed by singer Eimear Quinn.
