The European Union’s head of culture criticized Eurovision for its decision to ban artists from waving the EU flag, saying that Europeans should not need permission to celebrate their identity.

The flag flag with the stars circle was banned at last year’s event in Malmo along with other non -national flags, causing strong criticism from Brussels. This year, the Swiss Broadcasting Society and the European Broadcasting Union, which is organizing Eurovision, have retreated to some extent, allowing fans to wave the EU flag in the music competition – but not to artists.

Culture Commissioner Glenn Mikalev told Politico that the exclusion of the EU flag only from artists in this year’s competition in the Basel of Switzerland It is not sufficiently positive.

“The European flag represents our values, our European identity, the integration – and the citizenship of almost half billion people,” he said. “If the national flags belong to the stage, then the European flag belongs.”

The same prohibition applies to other non -national flagssuch as the rainbow flag, which was in the past popular in the competition.

‘Young Europeans They should not need permission to wave their flag ”, added by Mikalev. “If EBU keeps her away from the stage, let the crowd make the noisy symbol!”

Eurovision has long been called apolitical, although in practice politics is often emerged in the competition, which is broadcast televised in dozens of countries and is watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Before last year’s final, thousands of protesters waving Palestinian flags gathered in Malmo. When Israel’s contestant Eden Gallan went on stage, he received a “torrent” of disapproval and cheers.