| Eurovision Debate | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Eurovision Presidential Debate European Commission Presidential Debate |
| Genre | Topical debate |
| Directed by | Rob Hopkin (2014) |
| Starring | Candidates for the Presidency of the European Commission |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 editions |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Espace Léopold, Brussels, Belgium |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production company | European Broadcasting Union |
| Original release | |
| Release | 15 May 2014 – 15 May 2019 |
The Eurovision Debate is a live televised debate between the lead political candidates ("Spitzenkandidaten") running to be the next President of the European Commission. Produced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and broadcast across Europe via the Eurovision network, it is hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. The aim of the debate is to help public service media play their role in the democratic process by helping to better inform citizens and encouraging participation in the elections.
The first Eurovision Debate took place on 15 May 2014 and was the first-ever live televised format to bring democratic political debate to a pan-European level. [1] [2] Italian journalist and Director of the Rai News24 Monica Maggioni moderated the debate with RTÉ's Conor McNally as its social media co-presenter. [3] The Eurovision Debate is produced by the EBU under the guidance and the supervision of senior editors from European Public Service Media (the "Editorial Board") and was directed by Rob Hopkin. [4]
The 2019 edition was broadcast live from the European Parliament in Brussels on 15 May 2019 at 21:00 CET, moderated by TV anchors Markus Preiss (ARD/WDR), Émilie Tran Nguyen (France Télévisions) and Annastiina Heikkilä (Yle) [5] and broadcast by the EBU's public service media members and others throughout Europe. During the 90-minute debate, the following issues were to be addressed: migration, unemployment, security and climate change, and the role of Europe in the world. In fact, the debate was more about the common minimum wage, the European business tax, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the border control associated with solidarity, and the use of trade to improve working conditions in Europe. [6]
The debate is presented by 2 television anchor personalities who ask the candidates on stage a series of questions on pre-determined themes, although the questions themselves are not known in advance. The debate obeys the strictest rules of transparency and neutrality, all candidates are allocated exactly the same speaking time. Interpretation is provided in almost all EU official languages.
The order in which the candidates take the floor is decided by a draw which happens 5 weeks before the debate itself. The Eurovision Debate also uses social media to spark debate among citizens throughout Europe around issues that are topical for the European Parliament elections. A third anchor person is monitoring the exchanges online and reports to the journalists on stage so that the social media dimension is taken into account during the discussions.
The speaking order and the placing of the lead candidates were decided at the allocation draw held on 4 April. [7]
The debate is broadcast in more than 25 countries on TV, radio and online. [8] For the 2019 edition, the following channels and broadcasters aired the debate: [9]
| Country | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
 Azerbaijan | İTV |
 Belgium | VRT |
| RTBF | |
 Bulgaria | BNT |
 Croatia | HRT |
 Czechia | ČT |
 Denmark | DRTV |
 Estonia | ERR |
 France | France Info |
| Arte | |
| Public Sénat | |
| TV5Monde | |
 Finland | Yle |
 Georgia | GPB |
 Germany | Phoenix |
 Greece | ERT |
 Ireland | RTÉ News Now |
 Italy | Rai News 24 |
 Netherlands | NPO |
 Poland | TVP |
| PR | |
 Romania | TVR |
 Spain | RTVE Canal 24h |
| TvG2 | |
| Canal Sur 2 | |
 Sweden | SVT |
 United Kingdom | BBC Parliament |
 United States | Kingston TV |
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Media related to Eurovision Debate at Wikimedia Commons