#TellEUROPE

DEBATE

FAQs

www.eurovisiondebate.tv

#TellEUROPE

DEBATEFAQs

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EUROVISION DEBATE FAQS

1. WHY IS THE EBU PRODUCING THIS PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE?

A principal role of public service broadcasting is to bring audiences relevant, impartial current affairs programming, and it is the EBU’s job to help our Members to do this. Public service media play a pivotal role in creating an informed public, and the EUROVISION DEBATE is an innovative way of achieving that on a pan-European scale.

2. HOW DID THE PROJECT COME ABOUT?

The European Parliament approached the EBU to ask if a pan-European debate of this nature and scale would be feasible. While it was unprecedented, the EBU agreed that it was the only organization in a position to be able to deliver a programme on this scale.

3. WHO IS HELPING THE EBU TO ACHIEVE THIS?

The EBU is the producer of the EUROVISION DEBATE, with technical support from the European Parliament.

4. WHY ARE JUST FIVE PARTIES/POLITICAL GROUPS REPRESENTED IN THE DEBATE?

Under the agreed participation criteria, only official presidential candidates from one of the political groups represented in the European Parliament may participate. All groups that have put forward candidates for the role of Commission President will be taking part in the debate.

5. HOW IS THIS DEBATE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS TAKING PLACE?

• The EUROVISION DEBATE is the first major multichannel live TV debate between candidates for the EU Commission Presidency. We expect at least 20 separate broadcasters to air it;

• The EUROVISION DEBATE will take place at the heart of European politics - inside the European Parliament, in Brussels.

4. WHY ARE JUST FIVE PARTIES/POLITICAL GROUPS REPRESENTED IN THE DEBATE?

Under the agreed participation criteria, only official presidential candidates from one of the political groups represented in the European Parliament may participate. All groups that have put forward candidates for the role of Commission President will be taking part in the debate.

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FORMAT

6. WHO IS THE PRESENTER?

The programme will be moderated and presented by Italian journalist and TV presenter, Monica Maggioni, who was picked from among 15 or so names considered. Monica Maggioni is an experienced television journalist and presenter who can speak several languages fluently, including English.

7. WILL THERE BE A SECOND PRESENTER?

RTÉ news journalist Conor McNally will be the supporting social media presenter, feeding #TellEUROPE questions and comments into the debate.

8. WHAT ARE THE TOPICS FOR THE DEBATE?

• Social, environmental and political affairs: immigration; trust in politics; political reform; pollution; climate change;

• International affairs: the EU’s role in the world; international relations; Ukraine; Russia; Syria; Iran; Middle East; international terrorism; China; United States;

• Economic affairs: future of the single currency; debt; recession; recovery; banking and finance; business; jobs; education and research.

9. WHO CHOSE THESE TOPICS?

The EUROVISION DEBATE Editorial Board decided on these topics to try to encompass the broad spectrum of European issues.

10. DO THE CANDIDATES GET A PREVIEW OF THE TOPICS?

They receive broad guidelines, but no details of the questions that will be asked. The candidates do not have any influence over what will be discussed.

11. DOES THE TEAM WORKING ON THE THEMES TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ANY PUBLIC INPUT

The EBU has been collecting public opinions and questions via social media, using the hashtag #TellEUROPE, and will continue to do so until the debate is over.

12. WHAT ARE THE RULES ON THE DAY?

Here is a summary:

• The programme will be divided into three 30-minute segments, with questions in each segment focusing on a different theme;

• In case of major international breaking news, the moderator may ask the Participating Candidates for their reaction to the development before moving on to the next question;

• Each Participating Candidate will make a one-minute opening statement at the start of the programme. This should be in English and address a European audience;

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• After the opening statements, the moderator will ask the first question on the themes. There will be closing statements of one minute from all candidates at the end of the 90 minutes;

• Each Participating Candidate will have no more than one minute to answer each question;

• Each Participating Candidate will then have no more than one minute to comment on the answers and statements of the other Participating Candidates. The complete rules can be downloaded from our website eurovisiondebate.tv

13. WHAT LANGUAGES WILL THE DEBATE BE IN?

The programme will be made in English, although candidates have the option to use another language if they prefer. Interpretation into other languages will be managed by the broadcasters showing the programme.

14. IS THERE ANY UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE PLATFORM THAT WILL AIR THE DEBATE USING NATURAL SOUND (I.E. NO INTERPRETATION OR DUBBING)?

The Debate will be streamed on the European Parliament’s website in its original language, with interpretation available in the 23 official EU languages.

15. HOW LONG WILL THE DEBATE LAST?

It will start at 21:00 CET and last 90 minutes.

16. WILL INTERPRETATION BE AVAILABLE?

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided as necessary to ensure all contributions to the debate are understood by all participants.

STUDIO AUDIENCE

17. WHO WILL BE IN THE AUDIENCE? HOW MANY PLACES ARE AVAILABLE?

Approximately 500 places will be available in total. We will invite a cross section of Europeans to attend the debate, subject to the European Parliament security screening procedures. This will include a number of representatives from the media.

18. CAN THE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE?

The audience will not be invited to contribute to the live televised debate. There will be a brief Q&A with the candidates, off-camera, afterwards, to which the live audience will be able to contribute.allows for interaction.

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19. WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED NOT TO ALLOW THE AUDIENCE TO PARTICIPATE?

The programme will run according to a tight timeline, with candidates given one minute to respond to each issue. This format does not leave scope for audience participation, which is unpredictable. However, the social media aspect of allows for interaction.

20. WILL MEDIA HAVE ACCESS?

Yes. Seats in the audience have been reserved for media interested in attending. The media will also be able to access the European Parliament press room.

BROADCASTERS

21. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE EBU IN BROADCASTING THE PROGRAMME ACROSS EUROPE?

The EBU’s role is to promote and defend the interests of its Members, which are public service broadcasters. The EBU provides these broadcasters with access to valuable, relevant content in multiple genres, including live news and sports, and entertainment, such as the Eurovision Song Contest. The EUROVISION DEBATE is one more example of the EBU putting an important, relevant programme in its members’ reach, so that they can then decide how best to use it.

22. IN WHICH COUNTRIES WILL IT BE AIRED?

See broadcaster list (annexe)

23. HOW MANY BROADCASTERS IN TOTAL WILL SHOW THE DEBATE?

See broadcaster list (annexe)

24. WHICH ONES?

See broadcaster list (annexe)

25. HOW MANY ARE SHOWING IT LIVE?

The vast majority will air it live.

26. WHICH NATIONAL CHANNELS ARE SHOWING IT?

• Austria, ORF - ORF 3• Belgium, RTBF - La Trois• Croatia, HTV - HTV 4• Germany, ARD/ZDF - Phoenix TV• Ireland, RTE - News Now (Cable TV)

• Italy, RAI - Rai News 24• Portugal, RTP - RTP Informação• Spain, TVE - Canal 24 Horas• UK BBC - BBC Parliament

(List is not comprehensive.)

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27. HOW CAN SOMEONE BASED IN BRUSSELS WATCH THE DEBATE IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE AUDIENCE?

The Debate will also be live streamed on the European Parliament’s website in its original language, with interpretation available in the 23 official languages.

SOCIAL MEDIA

28. WHAT ROLE WILL SOCIAL MEDIA PLAY?

EUROVISION is gathering questions and opinions via the hashtag #TellEUROPE, which will feed into the flow of the debate and inform some of the topics to be debated.

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ANNEXEPARTICIPATING BROADCASTERS

Total: 25 countries

(TV/radio/web)

TV

(18 countries)

Web streaming

(11 countries)

Radio

(4 countries)

1 Austria Austria, ORF (ORF3) Austria, Der Standard France Radio Nantes

2 Belgium Belgium, RTBF (La Trois) Denmark, DR UK Caledonia Media

3 Bulgaria Bulgaria, BNT Finland, YLE Poland, Polish Radio

4 Canada Bulgaria, Kanal 6 France, France Televisions Czech Republic, Czech Radio

5 Croatia Canada, Cable Public Affairs France, Chaîne Parlementaire

6 Czech Republic Croatia, HRT, (HRT 4) France/Germany, ARTE

7 Denmark Croatia, Kanal RI (regional) Greece, Efimerida ton Syntakton

8Finland Croatia, RI TV (regional) Ireland, RTE

9 France Croatia, TV NOVA Pula (regional) Lithuania, DELFI

10 Germany Croatia, TV Student (regional) Malta, Malta Today

11 Greece France, Euronews France Netherlands, NOS

12 Ireland France, Chaîne Parlementaire Portugal, Diário de Notícias

13 Italy Germany, ZDF, ARD (Phoenix) Spain, El Mundo

14 Lithuania Germany, Deutsche Welle Spain, Teleprensa

15 Luxembourg Ireland, RTE (Now News)

16 Malta Italy, RAI (Rai News 24)

17Netherlands Luxembourg, Chamber TV

18 Poland Portugal, RTP(RTP Informacão)

19 Portugal Portugal, Economico TV

20 Romania Romania, TVR

21 Slovakia Romania, Antena 3

22 Spain Romania, Digi 24

23 Sweden Slovakia, Slovak TV

24 UK Spain, TVE (24 Horas)

25 Ukraine Spain, 3/24 Televisió de Catalunya, (regional)

26Spain, 8tv (regional)

27 Spain, Televisión Castilla y León, (regional)

28 Sweden, SVT (recorded)

29 UK, BBC (BBC Parliament)

30 Ukraine, NTU