Since 2000 , four countries - 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 . They earned this status by being the four biggest financial contributors to the EBU . Owing 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 " . However , with the official announcement of the return of Italy , it was not confirmed whether the country would compete in one of the two semi-finals or whether it would be part of the " Big Five " , as RAI , third largest contributor to the EBU , had not applied to be a member of " Big Five " . On December 31 , it was announced that Italy would take part in of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 and confirmed that the country would thereby automatically qualify for the final in Germany as part of the " Big Five "
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest