Ongoing debate: The Netherlands has joined calls for a discussion on Israel’s participation in Eurovision. Will this move prompt an official response from the European Broadcasting Union?
The controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2025 continues, with the Netherlands now joining the list of countries calling for a thorough and meaningful discussion on the issue. The Dutch national broadcasters, AVROTROS and NPO, released a joint statement requesting that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) hold an organized and official dialogue regarding the role and nature of Eurovision, given the growing political influences on the contest.
In their joint statement, the broadcasters wrote: “AVROTROS and NPO attach great importance to the apolitical and unifying value of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, we observe that the event is increasingly affected by social and geopolitical pressures. Israel’s participation raises the question—to what extent does Eurovision still function as a cultural, unifying, and apolitical event? We wish to raise this question, together with other countries, for discussion with the EBU.”
The Netherlands Is the Sixth Country to Express Reservations
The Netherlands is not the first country to express reservations about Israel’s participation in this year’s contest—it is the sixth. Preceding it were Spain, Belgium, Iceland, Finland, and Slovenia.
While some countries have focused mainly on questions about the contest’s voting system, Slovenia was the first to call for an explicit discussion about Israel’s participation, and now the Netherlands has joined this call. The Dutch statement, though diplomatically worded and not explicitly calling for a boycott, highlights what is seen as a central issue: whether Eurovision can continue to be presented as a cultural event “free from politics.”
Broader Discussion Already Promised
Despite statements from the EBU, which during preparations for the contest in Basel committed to holding a “broader discussion” regarding Israel’s participation, public and media pressure has not subsided. Now, as more countries raise the demand for a clear and in-depth discussion, the EBU may be compelled to address the issue in the coming months—possibly even before practical preparations for Eurovision 2026 begin.
In the past, the EBU has maintained a policy of non-intervention in political matters and upheld a stance of cultural neutrality. However, recent events—particularly the controversies surrounding Yuval Rafael’s performance in the final—may prompt the European Broadcasting Union to hold such a discussion.
Further Responses Expected Soon
If the trend of reservations continues, it is likely that additional countries—especially in Northern and Western Europe—will join the call for a discussion on Israel’s participation, or at least on the decision-making process within the contest.
The fact that the Netherlands, a country known for its openness, liberalism, and strong Eurovision tradition, has now joined the debate could mark a significant turning point and lend broader legitimacy to the conversation about the boundaries of political participation in the cptest
Netherlands at Eurovision 2025
“C’est La Vie” is the name of the song performed by Claude, who represented the Netherlands in the grand final of Eurovision 2025, held on May 13 in Basel, Switzerland. The Netherlands finished in 12th place with 175 points.
The song was written by the singer himself along with Arno Krabman who is responsible for the song “De Diepte” (in English: “The Depth”) that represented the Netherlands in 2022 and reached 11th place in the grand final. In addition to these creators, the creators Joren van der Voort and Léon Palmen are involved in the writing and production of the song. Apart from Krabman, this is the first song by the other creators in the Eurovision competition. The song is performed in English and French. The song “C’est la vie” blends childhood memories with a burst of nostalgia and a deep reflection on the cyclicality and rotations of life.
Source: eurovoix
Eurovision 2025: This was the Netherlands’ 65th participation in Eurovision. The Netherlands joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. The Netherlands’ last victory was at Eurovision 2019 with the song “Arcade” performed by singer Duncan Laurence.
