Romania have been disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest for failing to pay fees to the European Broadcasting Union.
The national television company, TVR, owe over €10 million to the EBU and had until Wednesday evening to pay. The deadline passed without payment and as a result, Romania have been removed from the Eurovision line-up. Rehearsals are due to begin next week for the contest which takes place on the 10th, 12th and 14th of May. They were drawn alongside Ireland in semi-final 2.
EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said: "It is regrettable that we are forced to take this action. We are disappointed that all our attempts to resolve this matter have received no response from the Romanian government. In recent weeks the EBU has taken note of the Ministry of Finance’s suggestion that TVR may be placed into insolvency proceedings which may in turn lead to a profound restructuring of the broadcaster. The EBU is a not-for-profit association which represents 73 Public Service Broadcasters in 56 countries. The continued indebtedness of TVR jeopardizes the financial stability of the EBU itself."
Romania's song will remain on the official album download as a courtesy to the artist. Ovidiu Anton was due to be this year's representative with Moment Of Silence.
