Unsuccessful BalkanVision Song Contest applicants

There have been several unsuccessful attempts or disputes in the BalkanVision Song Contest. For broadcasters to participate, they must be member of the BalkanVision Broadcasting Union (BBU) and register their intention to compete before the deadline specified in the rules of that edition.

## Bavaria

Main article: Bavaria
**Bavaria** applied for membership after Germany got rejected. *"Bavaria is the province which is the closest to the Balkans and even shares borders with the BBU members Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. We got an own broadcaster and enough artists, we should get accepted."* Bavaria got rejected as well. However, the Bavarian delegation stated that *"we want to compete as own and we'll push for the membership."* After all, the discussions of the 1st June 2019 finally allowed Bavaria to become a BBU member.

## Brčko

**Brčko** wanted to become a membership of the BBU, since it can compete in the YugoVision Song Contest. After discussions and voting polls, it was decided that the countries such as North Kosovo, Sandžak and Vojvodina are only allowed to compete in the YugoVision Song Contest.

## Crimea

**Crimea** applied for BBU mempership during the twelfth edition. The BBU has accepted them. On the 11th December 2019 it eas decided to ban Crimea from the BBU, because of having one of the biggest distances from Balkans.

## Czech Republic

Main article: Czech Republic
The **Czech Republic** applied to become a member, due to it's neighbours Slovakia and Austria are already in the BBU. However, after discussions, the nation got rejected. The Czech broadcaster ČT was still pushing for BBU membership. It would get discussed if the Czech Republic would become a BBU member or not. According to the discussions of the 19th May 2019, it was announced that the Czech Republic finally got accepted as a member in the BBU.

## France

**France** applied to become a member of the BBU, but got rejected. The BBU also stated in an interview: *"It is not known if France will get accepted in future or not."* After discussions, France got rejected. However, France announced, that if Monaco would become a BBU member, they would like to cooperate with them and would also be ready to host the event if Monaco would win. The discussions of June 2019 allowed Monaco to become a BBU-member. The French Televisions announced, that they would appreciate it to cooperate with Téle Monte-Carlo. They also confirmed, that TMC is allowed to take French singers.

On the 27th January 2019, it was decided that France will become an associate member.

## Germany

**Germany** applied for BBU membership since 2018, but got rejected as it is already too far from Balkans. Then it was rumoured that the Eastern German province Bavaria would apply for membership as own, which even happened soon after. It got the membership and debuted in the BalkanVision Song Contest 20.

On the 27th January 2019, it was decided that Germany will become an associate member.

## Israel

**Israel** applied for membership since 2017, but never got accepted. The BBU stated in an interview, that they don't see a reason why they should accept Israel in the BBU, since the nation is too far away from the Balkans.

On the 27th January 2019, it was decided that Israel will become an associate member.

## Lebanon

**Lebanon** applied for membership since 2017, but got rejected. The BBU stated: *"We aren't sure, if we should let Lebanon to participate as a guest country and only on condition that the host will invite the nation in that edition."*

On the 27th January 2019, it was decided that Lebanon will become an associate member.

## Liechtenstein

Main article: Liechtenstein
**Liechtenstein** became an accepted member after a voting poll, allowing it to compete in the BalkanVision Song Contest. Liechtenstein got even invited by the BBU to join the current edition. However, the Head of Delegation never replied, what made the BBU angry. After discussions it was decided to ban Liechtenstein from the BBU, due to inactivity. The new discussions of the 1st June 2019 decided to allow Liechtenstein again in the BBU.

## Malta

Main article: Malta
**Malta** debuted in the seventh edition. Later, the BBU has decided to make a voting poll, if Malta should stay in the BBU. After the voting, it was decided to ban Malta from the BBU. According to the discussions of the 12th March 2019, it was decided to give Malta again the BBU membership. Malta can now borrow from either Italy or use just like San Marino take international artists, which aren‘t world famous and have songs with a views limit under 500'000.

## Monaco

Main article: Monaco
**Monaco** applied for BBU membership after seeing the success of Italy's, Switzerland's, Austria's and Czechia's applications. TMC announced, that they would have a very good financial status to compete in the BalkanVision and that they would be even ready to pay more for being further away from the Balkans. *"We are very interested in the BalkanVision Song Contest and would really like to participate in this competition."* The discussions of June 2019 allowed Monaco to become a BBU-member. The Monacan broadcaster Téle Monte-Carlo announced, that they would like to cooperate with the French Televisions for future participations.

## North Kosovo

Main article: North Kosovo
**North Kosovo** became an accepted member, when the BalkanVision Song Contest 15 was held. North Kosovo even never debuted to the competition, it got banned, for not having enough artists. Despite that the country got banned from the BBU, it is still a member of the YBU, allowing it to participate in the Yugovision Song Contest along with other BBU applicants Brčko, Sandžak and Vojvodina, which also happened. North Kosovo debuts along with all other former Yugoslav nations in the first edition of YugoVision Song Contest.

## Northern Cyprus

*See also: Unified Cyprus dispute*
**Northern Cyprus** became an accepted member, allowing it already to debut in the BalkanVision Song Contest 2. RÍK, the Cypriot broadcaster, complained about having no unified Cyprus in the BBU, until the discussions of the 11th January 2019 it was decided that Northern Cyprus will unite with the other part of the island. But later on, Turkey complained about the unification, because there is still a Turkish-speaking population living there and that RÍK would never allow Turkish Cypriots to represent Cyprus. In the end, the BBU stated that Cyprus will be allowed to borrow from Greece and from Turkey.

If the dispute will continue, it will discussed to seperate the country again.

## Russia

**Russia** applied for becoming a BBU member, since Crimea was forced to withdraw. The reason why Crimea got banned was that *"it is still part of Russia and it shouldn‘t be allowed to compete as an own"*, how the Russian delegation thought it would be. *"If Crimea, a part of Russia was allowed to compete in the BalkanVision Song Contest, then whole Russia should be allowed to compete in the contest."* However, Russia got rejected, not because of the complains, because of being too far from the Balkans, which was even the real reason for banning Crimea and not for being a part of Russia.

On the 27th January 2019, it was decided that Russia will become an associate member.

## San Marino

Main article: San Marino
**San Marino** first got accepted as an official member, allowing it to debut in the BalkanVision Song Contest 12. After discussions in the BBU, San Marino got banned from the fourteenth edition on, having the last appearence in the BalkanVision Song Contest 13. As the discussions of the 11th January 2019, it was decided to give San Marino again the official membership in the BBU, allowing even a new borrowing rule for San Marino. It can now take international artists, which aren‘t world famous and have songs with a views limit under 500'000.

## Sandžak

**Sandžak** wanted to become a membership of the BBU, since it can compete in the YugoVision Song Contest. After discussions and voting polls, it was decided that the countries such as Brčko, North Kosovo and Vojvodina are only allowed to compete in the YugoVision Song Contest.

## Switzerland

Main article: Switzerland
**Switzerland** became an accepted member after a voting poll, allowing it to debut in the BalkanVision Song Contest 9. Until today, it was the only appearence of Switzerland in the competition. After discussions in the BBU, it was decided to ban Switzerland due to inactivity. According to the discussions of the 12th March 2019, Switzerland got the BBU membership again. Soon after that, Switzerland confirmed for the BalkanVision Song Contest 19, ten editions after their only appearence.

## Syria

**Syria** applied for BBU membership after seeing Turkey and Cyprus as full BBU members and Lebanon and Israel as associate members. It will get discussed if Syria will become a BBU member or an associate member. In the end, it got decided that Syria won't get any membership.

## Transnistria

Main article: Transnistria
*See also: Transnistria - Moldova conflict*
**Transnistria** became a BBU member since the beginning of the contest. Moldova was complaining for a long time about Transnistria's participation in the contest. According to the discussions of the 12th March 2019, Transnistria lost its BBU membership and rejoined Moldova back. The Transnistrian broadcaster was unhappy about the decision and sent a new BBU application. According to the discussions of the 19th May 2019, it was announced that Transnistria got accepted back again as a member and can compete now as own again.

## Vatican City

The **Vatican City** got invited along with San Marino to enter in the BBU. There were even rumours of planning really to debut in the competition. Sadly, the Vatican City announced three possible debuts, but no one ever happened. Also, after discussions in the BBU, it was decided to ban the Vatican City, due to nearly having no people living there and being inactive.

## Veneto

**Veneto** has applied to become a member of the BBU, after hearing rumours of banning whole Italy from the BBU. Veneto is the closest Italian region to the Balkans. However, after discussions in the BBU, it was decided to keep whole Italy as a member, which answered the Venetian request.

## Vojvodina

**Vojvodina** wanted to become a membership of the BBU, since it can compete in the YugoVision Song Contest. After discussions and voting polls, it was decided that the countries such as Brčko, North Kosovo and Sandžak are only allowed to compete in the YugoVision Song Contest.