Montenegro and North Macedonia pull out of Eurovision over costs of taking part

Montenegro has become the latest country to drop out of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 after North Macedonia announced it had quit to save on energy costs.

Both countries have added that they were concerned about the cost of staying in the UK, with Liverpool hosting the contest for 2022 winners Ukraine.

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Explaining the decision, Montenegro's public service broadcaster RTCG said: "In addition to the significant costs of registration fees, as well as the cost of staying in Great Britain - we also faced a lack of interest from sponsors, so we decided to direct existing resources to the financing of current and planned national projects."

Costs for countries to take part vary according to size and there are rumours that other countries have also considered quitting after entry fees increased when Russia, a major financial contributor, was banned from competing.

North Macedonia's news was announced by the country's state broadcaster MRT, who shared that the decision had been made that it would cost too much to pay the entry fee and send a delegation to Liverpool for the contest.

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It was recently confirmed that Liverpool will be the host city for the 2023 contest, after the UK stepped in as runners up to stage the next event in place of winners Ukraine.

But MRT posted on Facebook: "Due to the economic and energy crisis and high costs, Macedonia will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, scheduled to be held in May in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The decision to cancel Eurosong participation is valid for this year, and for the future we will see."

In a longer statement on the MRT website, they explained: "Macedonian Radio Television informs the public about the decision it has made, not to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in the United Kingdom.

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"Such a decision is in the best interest of the citizens, taking into account the increased costs due to the energy crisis, which take up a large part of the public service budget, as well as the increased registration fee for participating at Eurovision 2023, which until now was 39,143 euros (£34,000), and is expected to be higher in the coming year.

"This decision will allow saving on funds that would have been allocated for the Macedonian delegation’s stay in Liverpool, where Eurovision 2023 is being held. However, MRT will broadcast the event, the two semi-finals and the grand final on its channels.

"MRT hopes that the situation will stabilise, after which the country will once again participate in Eurovision in 2024."

North Macedonia will not be taking part in Eurovision for the first time since the country gained its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.

However, they have only placed in the top 10 once - in 2019, when they came seventh.