The EBU has officially removed Dutch Head of Delegation Claudia van der Pas from the Eurovision Reference Group following AVROTROS’s withdrawal from the contest.
Despite the return of the Netherlands to Eurovision 2027, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided to remove Dutch Head of Delegation Claudia van der Pas from the Eurovision Reference Group, whose primary role is to oversee the contest. The dramatic decision, confirmed by the EBU to the Dutch news agency ANP, comes against the backdrop of the Dutch withdrawal from Eurovision last year, bringing an immediate end to the Dutch Head of Delegation’s tenure.
Netherlands Out, Spain In: Why Was the Dutch Representative Removed?
Claudia van der Pas was previously elected to a two-year term as a member of the Reference Group. Despite the Dutch national broadcaster AVROTROS withdrawing from the contest last December, the EBU granted her a wildcard to continue her term. However, it has now emerged that the exemption expired at the end of the summer, and EBU management refused to extend it. An EBU spokesperson clarified: “Claudia was elected as a representative of Heads of Delegation. However, these seats are designated for Heads of Delegation actively performing their role.”
On the other hand, the current chair of the group, Ana María Bordas from the Spanish national broadcaster RTVE, will continue in her role until June 2027. This comes despite Spain also not participating in the recent Eurovision. The EBU emphasized that Bordas will continue to carry out her duties as chair until the end of her term.
As previously reported, the EBU is currently working to establish a new committee (ESC Committee) to replace the Reference Group. The goal of the new committee is to reform the decision-making structure and grant member national broadcasters greater authority. It has now been revealed that this change is expected to take effect in summer 2027. Nevertheless, the future of her status in the new structure remains open.
A Glimpse Into Dutch Preparations for Eurovision 2027
Alongside the removal from the Reference Group, the Dutch national broadcaster NPO has begun assembling a new team of experts to manage the return of the Netherlands to Eurovision 2027. Van der Pas, who led the Dutch delegation to Basel at Eurovision 2025, clarified that she remains open to returning to the role and overseeing delegation management if requested.
The Netherlands in Eurovision 2025
“C’est La Vie” (in English: “That’s Life”) is the title of the song performed by singer Claude, who represented the Netherlands at Eurovision 2025 held in Basel, Switzerland. The song finished in 12th place in the grand final with 175 points, lower than bookmakers had predicted.
Eurovision 2027: This will be the Netherlands’ 66th participation in Eurovision. The Netherlands joined the contest in 1956 as one of seven founding nations and has won five times. The country’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2019 with the song “Arcade”, performed by singer Duncan Laurence.
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Nicole Postelnik is a reporter and commentator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. She has been following the competition since 2015, and since then, her love for Eurovision has grown stronger year after year.
