'Completely regrettable': Brussels demands answers over ban on EU flags at Eurovision

The allegations, made by several spectators who attended the Grand Final on Saturday and were told off for carrying the flags, quickly turned viral and prompted a stern rebuke from Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas.

"Eurovision is first and foremost a celebration of European spirit, of our European diversity and talent. The EU flag is a symbol of this," Schinas said on X on Saturday evening.

"Less than a month to the European elections, there should be no obstacles, big or small, to celebrating what unites all Europeans."

The EU's executive is now seeking answers from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Geneva-based alliance of public media and the organiser of the music celebration. Schinas sent a letter on Monday asking EBU bosses to explain the "rationale" behind the ban and attribute "responsibility where it is due".

"It is certainly completely regrettable," said Eric Mamer, the Commission's chief spokesperson on Monday. "From our point of view, there is absolutely no reason for this flag (...) to be banned from the venue."

"This is not an event which is organised by the European Union. We can make our views known. We can certainly encourage the EBU to understand that this is a mistake and then it's their decision on how to proceed," he added.

In a statement to Euronews, the EBU said the flag policy had been agreed with SVT, the Swedish broadcaster and host of this year's contest, but stressed this did not feature an explicit provision to prohibit EU flags. 

"As in previous years such as 2023, SVT's policy was to allow the flags of the participating countries and the rainbow flags. There has never been an express ban on the EU flag in the written policy," an EBU spokesperson said 

"Due to heightened