Croatia: HRT reveals budget plans for 2025 | Return in Junior Eurovision is closer than ever!
Despite Estonia’s confirmation of non-participation in the upcoming Junior Eurovision Song Contest, another country is close to return after an eleven-year hiatus, Croatia. The country, which has played a significant role in the history of the contest, is now closer than ever to making its comeback, as suggested by the recent budget plans unveiled by the Croatian national broadcaster HRT for 2025.
HRT’s budget plans for 2025
Following the broadcast of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, HRT revealed its budget for the upcoming year. The plans indicated strong support for music entertainment programs, with significant attention given to major events like Eurovision and Dora, Croatia’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. But what caught the eye of many was the addition of a specific fund allocated for Junior Eurovision 2025.
According to the details shared by HRT, the broadcaster has earmarked a budget of 368 thousand euros for Eurovision 2025, 993 thousand euros for Dora 2025, and 78 thousand euros for Junior Eurovision 2025.
While the budget doesn’t specifically state whether the funds are for broadcasting rights or if they will go towards Croatia’s participation in Junior Eurovision 2025, the fact that Junior Eurovision is mentioned in the budget clearly signals an intent to re-engage with the competition. Given the strong interest in the country for both Eurovision and its Junior counterpart, this could be a sign that Croatia is preparing to return to the Junior Eurovision stage for the first time since 2014.
Croatia’s intention to return in 2025
Just before the 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest, HRT announced that it will broadcast the children’s contest. Then, Tomislav Štengl, the Head of Croatia’s Eurovision Delegation, shared some exciting news in an interview, revealing the country’s interest in returning to Junior Eurovision, potentially as soon as 2025. According to Štengl, the Croatian broadcaster hopes to send the winner of The Voice Kids Hrvatska to the competition in the following year, provided certain criteria are met.
We would like to return next year. For example, the winner of The Voice Kids Hrvatska could represent us at Junior Eurovision.
He also highlighted that the song chosen for the contest must be an original work, ideally written by a child with the help of adults, emphasizing the importance of creativity in the process.
Croatia’s Junior Eurovision history
Croatia has a rich history in Junior Eurovision, being one of the founding members of the contest back in 2003. The country made an unforgettable debut by winning the inaugural competition with Dino Jelusićk’s “Ti si moja prva ljubav.” However, after a string of less favorable results, Croatia withdrew from the contest in 2007, returning again in 2014. Unfortunately, the return saw a disappointing last-place finish, and Croatia subsequently withdrew once again, citing a decline in public interest.
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