2018 Confirmed Countries

[John1]

https://eurovoix.com/2017/05/16/cze...evize-plans-regular-eurovision-participation/

What about this?

 

[burrito]

https://eurovoix.com/2017/05/16/cze...evize-plans-regular-eurovision-participation/

What about this?

Good news I was really afraid that they will withdraw, but now I'm happy for them

 

[ShoeFlo]

WHAT..NOO.. why did we confirm already

I want the Dexit from Eurovision

 

[AlekS]

The NF producer confirmed the NF 2018 right after NF 2017.

 

[lowyby]

What I think will happen:

Russia & Bosnia returns, Kazachstan debuts & San Marino + Macedonia withdraw

 

[Brandt]

Kazachstan debuts

That's too sudden actually. But the prime minister of Kazakhstan is quite interested in western world apparently. They have just recognized the roman alphabet over cyrillic alphabet as the official one which can be considered a huge change. I am sure Kazakhstan will debut in the following years but I doubt if this is this year.

 

[musicfan]

I don't mind Israel withdrawing, less politics then. And I don't think they've had that many good entries over the years.

 

[A-lister]

I don't mind Israel withdrawing, less politics then. And I don't think they've had that many good entries over the years.

Please point out some validation for Israel bringing politics into the context?, in fact I think they've been pretty apolitical in this apart for some peace songs, but if that's politics then half of the contestants if not all should be withdrawing, and certainly personal taste isn't really a good argument for wanting a country to get withdrawn, there are many countries that never really sent any entries I like for instance, I still want them to remain in the contest regardless.

Israel is a crucial part of the Eurovision family and has been for 40 years including three wins , 2 runner-ups and 13 top 10's, it's certainly "in fashion" by certain groups in Europe to bring political points in regards to Israel, but that's not Israel bringing politics into it, more their loathers, but even with highly anti-Israeli countries such as Sweden (as of nowadays) and Ireland, thankfully in regards to Israel the politics haven't been very apparent from any sides of the spectrum (bar some questionable voting, but that's about it).

 

[GRE]

Luxembourg is bigger than Iceland & Malta.

 

[DanielLuis]

Luxembourg doesn't want to participate because they dont believe they can do well on the competition. First of all, they are not comparable to San Marino, they are more comparable to Malta and Iceland, and those two countries have done great in recent years.
Second of all, the presidency of RTL should just look at this year's top 3 and then look at their overall history in the competition. If that doesn't show them that anyone can do well, I don't know what can.

 

[Alaska49]

i thought the luxembourgish channel was broke too? which doesn't make much sense to me because luxembourg is basically made of money, but eh

 

[GRE]

I am afraid that there will be less than 40 countries.
are not sure, and I don't see any returns or debuts.

 

[JonnyWest]

will for sure be in Lisbon imo

 

[popavapeur]

I guess a Belgian win will bring back Luxembourg but I have read somewhere it was very complicated for them to come back because the country can't really give them money so they have to find sponsors. They said not in 2017 but maybe in 2018 ?

I'm quoting wiwibloggs, they made a paper on it : http://wiwibloggs.com/2016/06/26/luxembourg-broadcaster-rtl-explains-cant-return-eurovision/145665/

And can't they make a kickstarter ? like..i'm serious ! I'm sure eurofans would love to give something to allow Luxembourg to come back

 

[Chorizo]

I guess a Belgian win will bring back Luxembourg but I have read somewhere it was very complicated for them to come back because the country can't really give them money so they have to find sponsors. They said not in 2017 but maybe in 2018 ?

I'm quoting wiwibloggs, they made a paper on it : http://wiwibloggs.com/2016/06/26/luxembourg-broadcaster-rtl-explains-cant-return-eurovision/145665/

And can't they make a kickstarter ? like..i'm serious ! I'm sure eurofans would love to give something to allow Luxembourg to come back

Wouldn't Luxembourg be the second San Marino? In the olden days, they have usually sent French artists, haven't they? None of their five winners is from Luxembourg.

 

[A-lister]

Wait, so you want countries that are as far as possible from Europe, let alone the broadcasting area (which until recently atleast was a rule to be allowed to enter), to enter but Kazakhstan that is partly European shouldn't be allowed?

Well that makes alot of sense... but unfortunately it's the same logic EBU and some others in here use... simply it's a view that some European countries and cultures are inferior than others, wheres countries that aren't even close to Europe are superior because they belong to the "correct" cultural, social, linguistic and political group (aka the Western Anglo-Saxic one). I for one find this view very narrow-minded and contrary to the spirit of Eurovision and Europe is much more than just one language and one culture, and particularly when the countries aren't even close to Europe it becomes so obvious that it's not about bringing Europe together, rather politicize and homogenize the contest.

I do agree though that China and the Arab/African states have nothing to do in Eurovision, simply because they are not European in any sense of the word.

 

[EurovisionBelgium]

IPBC (Israel) applied for EBU Membership and is now a "pending member". Big chances that the country will be in the contest next year.

 

[Chorizo]

Wait, so you want countries that are as far as possible from Europe, let alone the broadcasting area (which until recently atleast was a rule to be allowed to enter), to enter but Kazakhstan that is partly European shouldn't be allowed?

Well that makes alot of sense... but unfortunately it's the same logic EBU and some others in here use... simply it's a view that some European countries and cultures are inferior than others, wheres countries that aren't even close to Europe are superior because they belong to the "correct" cultural, social, linguistic and political group (aka the Western Anglo-Saxic one). I for one find this view very narrow-minded and contrary to the spirit of Eurovision and Europe is much more than just one language and one culture, and particularly when the countries aren't even close to Europe it becomes so obvious that it's not about bringing Europe together, rather politicize and homogenize the contest.

I do agree though that China and the Arab/African states have nothing to do in Eurovision, simply because they are not European in any sense of the word.

Kazakhstan should stay out because that would be another 24 points for Russia every single year regardless of the song.

 

[A-lister]

Kazakhstan should stay out because that would be another 24 points for Russia every single year regardless of the song.

As much as I don't like diaspora or political voting, it's not an argument for blocking a country from entering, with that logic we should through out half of the countries. I think it's not fair to block a partly European country because some of us might not like whom they would vote for, as for the voting is also a bit speculative, although you might be right on that.

 

[A-lister]

IPBC (Israel) applied for EBU Membership and is now a "pending member". Big chances that the country will be in the contest next year.

The fact that they so quickly applied for EBU membership is quite telling, I'm almost certain Israel will stay with us.