The Eurovision Trophy. Photograph courtesy of Andres Putting (EBU/EUROVISION)

The formal closing date for Broadcasters to apply for Eurovision 2014 participation is Friday November 22nd. So who do we have present as of close of business Monday 18th November? However remember that we told you in an earlier post that a Broadcaster can withdraw from the contest without any financial penalty up until December 15th – so keep that in mind as countries review their finances and potential sponsors – like Bosnia-Herzegovina

• Albania
• Austria
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• FYR Macedonia
• Georgia
• Germany
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Russia
• San Marino
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom

Officially Withdrawn

• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• Morocco
• Turkey

Romania has been the talking point of some discussion today with rumors of them not participating. Our sources have said that Romania are a strong possibility to compete at Eurovision 2014. Remember that the Romanian National Eurovision Selection is one of the Top 5 most viewed selections across Europe.

Greece as we have told you have been granted an extension on their application deadline date as their new National Broadcaster NERIT seeks EBU membership. According to our sources we also expect details of a National Final to be announced around the first week of December if all goes to plan.

Interestingly there have been no announcements as yet from Azerbaijan, Italy and Armenia. There has been speculation that Sirusho maybe returning to Eurovision after her cryptic Facebook Posts. We have had no communications from Moldova as of yet. We have been hoping that Poland may return to the contest after their successful hosting of the Eurovision Young Dancer Contest this year.

Serbia – we are expecting an answer shortly. There had been speculation that they may sit Eurovision 2014 out due to financial challenges with their National Broadcaster RTS. However we had pointed out that RTS had opened their official Eurovision Blog on the RTS website which was a good sign of them participating at Eurovision 2014

Montenegro will be making an announcement on their act for Eurovision 2014 shortly – we are hoping it could be Sergej Ćetković that we wrote of back in June. 

And don’t forget that we also have The Netherlands announcing their Eurovision Act on Monday November 25th – high hopes that Waylon is their singer with a song composed by Ilse DeLange and produced by a famous Dutch DJ

“Eurovision Speculation” is just as exciting as the main event according to all your comments we have received at Eurovision Ireland.

What country would be a shock to you if they decided not to participate at Eurovision 2014?

Author/Website co-founder and Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall

Source : Eurovision Ireland