Since 1998, four particular countries, namely the
United Kingdom,
Germany,
France and
Spain, have automatically qualified for the final of the Contest regardless of their positions on the scoreboard in previous Contests.
[9] They earned this status by being the four biggest financial contributors to the EBU (without which the production of the Eurovision Song Contest would not be possible). Due to their untouchable status in the Contest, these countries became known as the "
Big Four". Executive Supervisor of the Contest
Svante Stockselius told reporters in a meeting with
OGAE Serbia, that if
Italy were to return to the contest in the future the country would also qualify automatically for the finals, becoming part of a "Big Five".
[10][11]