Due to problems and riots in Belgrade following the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo on 17 February 2008 , the EBU held a phone conference to decide if the contest should be moved to a different country . Ukraine was considered an option since they came second in Eurovision Song Contest 2007 . YLE were another option , as they hosted the previous year 's competition in Helsinki , Finland . Greece 's Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi ( ERT ) also offered the EBU to host the contest in Athens , Greece again . It was later decided that the contest would stay in Belgrade , with the EBU giving support . RTS would gain a guarantee of safety and security from the government of Serbia for all visitors and participants of the contest . The delegations of Albania , Croatia and Israel had special security
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2008