Belgian trade unions urge public broadcaster to reverse Eurovision 2027 participation decision

Trade unions at Belgian public broadcaster VRT urged its management on Tuesday to reconsider its decision to participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, calling on it to follow the example of the Netherlands, Anadolu reports.

The unions urged VRT management not to wait for additional staff action before reversing its decision, after Dutch public broadcasters announced that the Netherlands would not participate in next year’s contest.

“Perhaps our management also needs 500 signatures from employees first to reverse its decision. In that case, we will gladly collect them,” Carlos Van Hoeymissen of the ACV-VRT trade union told the broadcaster.

He added that conversations showed support for VRT’s participation in the contest was limited.

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Another trade union, ACOD-VRT, said the Dutch broadcaster NPO had made “the only morally acceptable decision” by withdrawing from an event in which Israel continues to participate.

The two unions have already filed a strike notice covering the Eurovision broadcast dates of May 11, 13 and 15, 2027, in protest against VRT’s decision to send a candidate.

Israel’s participation in Eurovision has prompted growing calls for boycotts and renewed pressure on broadcasters to withdraw from the contest in protest against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

​​​​​​​Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000 others in Gaza, while around 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed.

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