Last month it seemed like FYR Macedonia would be forced to sit out Eurovision 2018, as the EBU had removed MRT‘s access to member services following debt issues. But now it seems that the way has been cleared for FYR Macedonia to compete in Eurovision 2018 — if they choose to do so.

According to a statement made by the broadcaster and published by Eurovoix, Macedonian Radio-Television has come to an agreement with the European Broadcasting Union.

After racking up debt mostly due to the purchase of rights to high-profile sports events, the EBU had suspended MRT’s membership services — which includes the right to compete at the Eurovision Song Contest.

However, in MRT’s statement, they confirmed that these services had been reinstated:

“A meeting was held [between MRT and the EBU] at the highest level, where it was decided to abolish all sanctions against MRT and all the services provided by the EBU are available on the Macedonian Radio Television again.”

This clears the way for FYR Macedonia to compete at Eurovision 2018. However, the broadcaster has still not confirmed if they will go to Lisbon.

MRT has previously listed the Eurovision 2018 broadcast in its 2018 line-up, but the broadcaster has not said if this will be as a competing country or merely as spectators.

But fans are still hopeful that FYR Macedonia will be part of Eurovision 2018. Last month host broadcaster RTP revealed that 43 countries would compete in Eurovision 2018. While these countries were not named, it was generally assumed that FYR Macedonia was on the list.

A happier outcome

It seems to have resulted in a happier outcome than Romania’s situation in 2016.

In April 2016, just weeks before Eurovision, the European Broadcasting Union confirmed that it had withdrawn member services from Romanian public service broadcaster Televiziunea Romana (TVR) over unpaid debts.

That meant that Ovidiu Anton — who had spent weeks travelling Europe as part of his promotional campaign for Eurovision — could not compete in the contest.

However, TVR eventually sorted out their financial issues and was welcomed back to the Eurovision family. Their return act Ilinca ft. Alex Florea placed seventh in the grand final with “Yodel It!”.

FYR Macedonia may be hoping for a Eurovision comeback with a similar result. In the past decade, the Balkan national has only qualified for the grand final once.

What do you think? Would you like to see FYR Macedonia return to Eurovision 2018? Who should they send? Sound off below!

READ MORE FYR MACEDONIA EUROVISION NEWS

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Matty
Matty
6 years ago

Everything comes to a happy-end!

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Great news! It’s sad for me to see countries leaving Eurovision for different reasons. So I hope FYROM participates.

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago

Tis good news from a potential participation point of view. Let’s hope they find an artist to send, most likely internally. With 43 countries expected in Lisbon, it’s most likely that FYR Macedonia will be participating…they just have to get things organized, I suppose. Good news, anyway!

Nico
Nico
6 years ago

Something like Crno i Belo? Then, hell yes!
Some trainwreck forced in to English like Autumn leaves? Rather no.

I wouldn’t mind to see Kaliopi for a 3rd time btw 😀

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

If they participate, how much money will they be able to spend on the entry (production, promotion, staging, etc)? Probably very little. Maybe stay away for 1 or 2 years and get their stuff together would be a better option.
However, since Portugal said there will be 43 countries, Macedonia will probably be there.

Raúl Valero
Raúl Valero
6 years ago

That would make 44 countries, the biggest number ever 🙂

KESC
KESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Raúl Valero

Why 44? This would actually make 42 counties, since Moldova hasn’t confirmed.
With Moldova and Macedonia we would have 43.

sam
sam
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

it would most likely be 43 as rtp confirmed 43 countries would be there, if macedonia was on the list then it would remain the same.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

They should stay lowkey and waste no money on promotion, kinda like what Taylor Swift is doing now. If they use their own resources well instead of outsourcing to Sweden/Bulgaria like they did last year, they can do well minimizing their costs.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Taylor Swift not wasting money on promotion??? lol She’s even doing teaser-trailers for her songs, which is kinda silly.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Promotion is Spotify payola, televised performances, late night show interviews etc. She’s doing none of this.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

That’s because her album is not out yet. She will be on SNL next weekend.

D
D
6 years ago

If the sanctions are actually lifted, I think it should be assumed they’ll be there. They confirmed participation prior to the sanctions, so I don’t know why it’d be anything different now.

lemoni
lemoni
6 years ago

These broadcasters must be careful with sport events. As public broadcasters, they feel the pressure of hypocritical patriots, to buy any sport event, just because their country is there. This must stop, they need to think more about ratings and less about patriotism.