DATE

28 August 2018 Prime Minister's Office

3 Kaplan St. Hakirya
Jerusalem
91950 - Israel

REFERENCE
Eurovision Song Contest 2019

SUBJECT
Guarantee of working conditions during the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

Dear Sirs,

Further to Israel's victory of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, IPBC-KAN has the
responsibility to organize and produce the next Eurovision Song Contest, which is due to
take place in Israel during a two-week period in May 2019 (the city, the venue and the exact
dates are still to be decided upon). As you may know, the Event is attracting large number of
people and more than 3000 delegates, journalists and fans from all over Europe and beyond
will gather in the host city throughout the period of the Event.
In view thereof, it is of the utmost importance that the government of the host country can
formally guarantee that all necessary precautions and measures are taken to ensure that
accredited media, and especially journalists, participants, production crews and staff,
delegations, partners and fans can actually work under the best possible conditions. This
includes inter alia respect for freedom of the press, maximum simplification of the handling of
entry into the country, visas, respect of editorial independence, guarantee of uninterrupted
work during the Events weeks etc.
Accordingly, the EBU/Eurovision would be grateful for a representative of the Israeli
Government, and preferably the Prime Minister, to issue an official statement, addressed to
the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, formally confirming that the conditions listed
hereafter will be guaranteed at all times with respect to any activity related to the Eurovision
Song Contest and in particular that the Israeli government will take all necessary steps
required to ensure that:

- All persons coming to the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 or for the purposes of the
Eurovision Song Contest 2019 will be free to travel and stay in the Israel and in
the Host City, notwithstanding their political views, nationality, religion or sexual
orientation. All participants, fans and accredited journalists will have free access to
all public facilities and will be able to move around in the Host City and in the
Israel without any authorisation or restriction.

- All participants, Delegations, fans and international press will be guaranteed the right
of freedom of expression, access to information (including unrestricted access to
Internet), assembly and contact with the citizens of the Host Country, in accordance

EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION

L’Ancienne-Route 17A Tel. +41(0)22 717 21 11
PO Box 45 Ext. +41(0)22 717 24 59
1218 Le Grand-Saconnex Email: caflisch@ebu.ch
Geneva, Switzerland www.eurovision.com
 with European standards. All participants, fans and accredited journalists will have
the right to talk with or interview, also with the purpose of publication, all citizens of
the Host City and in Israel. In particular, Article 10 of the European Convention on
Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights in line
therewith will be respected at all times during the preparation and the production of
the Eurovision Song Contest.

- In view of the non-political character of the Eurovision Song Contest, the Event will in
no case be used as a platform for any political purpose by any governmental, non-
governmental, or similar institutions and that the editorial independence of the EBU
and IPBC-KAN will be respected at all times.

- Full visas waivers for staff, delegates of participating countries, partners and
production staff, journalists and fans will be implemented. Should this be impossible,
at minimum, a lighter visa process will be established. Importation formalities with
respect to all products, materials and technical equipment that needs to be brought in
Israel for or in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 will be facilitated
and simplified.

- All delegations, participants and crews will be able to perform their work without
hindrance and interruption over the full 2 weeks of the Event and there shall be no
local or religious impediments precluding the crews from working on the Eurovision
Song Contest 2019 according to the schedule for rehearsals and live broadcast as
set out by the EBU/Eurovision. This shall apply within the Eurovision Song Contest
compound as such and with respect to all infrastructure necessary to access and
operate the venue, including technical support, accommodation, and transportation.

Please note that the EBU/Eurovision will also need to receive a joint security plan for the
Eurovision Song Contest 2019 that is to be issued by IPBC-KAN in cooperation with the local
authorities in Israel.

We remain at your disposal in this matter and look forward to hearing from you.

With kind regards

Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling Jon Ola Sand

Chairman of the ESC Reference Group ESC Executive Supervisor

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