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The figures suggest that being a member does not increase significantly the chance of success. Of the 64 acts who have won the contest to date, a little over half (36) represented a country
in the EU or EEC. Sweden has shown itself just as capable of winning as a non-member (with Abba in 1974, then again in 1984 and 1991) as a member (1999, 2012 and 2015). The UK can no longer
rely on its closest neighbours for support, however. Since 2002 Spain has awarded the UK zero points every year except on three occasions (2009, 2013 and 2014). France has awarded points
only three times since 1999, while Germany hasn't given the UK a single point since 2009. Only Ireland has continued to be generous with its scores, most recently giving UK a total of
10 points in 2016. It's a trend that suggests the UK needs to cultivate friends beyond western Europe if it wants to enjoy future Eurovision success - something that will chime with
those who argue that Brexit is an opportunity for Britain to improve relations with nations outside the EU. A country does not have to belong to the European Union to take part in the
Eurovision Song Contest. Just over a third (16) of the 42 nations competing in this year's event are not members of the EU. Though the number of countries in Eurovision has increased
over the past two decades, four of the past five contests have been won by countries in the EU, all of them in Western Europe (Austria, Denmark and twice by Sweden). The scheduled date for
the UK to leave the European Union is March 29 2019, meaning the country has just two more attempts at winning Eurovision - this year and in May 2018 - before it is out of the EU.