The amount of money and attention Malta throws at the Eurovision each year – so far without much success – is often something of a national embarrassment.

But Abba singer and songwriter Björn Ulvaeus, himself a Eurovision winner, believes Malta should instead hold its commitment up as a point of pride.

“I think it’s important that Malta spends the money and takes the Eurovision seriously,” he told the Times of Malta on the set of his new Mamma Mia show in Stockholm. “Eurovision is a European project and every country should contribute to that. It’s actually one of the few European projects we have, at least in music.”

Ulvaeus won the Eurovision in 1974 with Swedish pop group Abba, one of the few winners to go on to achieve international stardom. And while many see the Eurovision as a shallow diversion at best, Ulvaeus says it is now more important than ever.

“I see it more and more as quite relevant in Europe, especially these days when there are forces that threaten to break Europe apart again,” he said. “We have a possible Brexit, we have religious fanaticism, we have ultra-nationalism; Europe needs something that keeps it unified, a symbol of something that is Europe.

And I think the Eurovision, in a way, is one of the few events when people in Europe feel a bit connected.”

Nevertheless, he is hesitant about performers shoehorning politics into the competition with flags and song lyrics, a big point of contention in this year’s edition.

“I can understand that the singer wants to express something that they feel very strongly about,” Ulvaeus said. “But I think it’s more important that the contest itself survives another 60 years.”

And despite his professed love for the Eurovision, he would not be drawn into sharing his favourites in this year's event.

"I’ve made it a point not to listen to any of the songs before Saturday," he said. "I think it’s great to hear them fresh and trying to guess, or picking my favourite and comparing my tastes to the rest of Europe."

The Abba singer’s own profile, meanwhile, has continued unabated in Stockholm, which is also home to an Abba-themed hotel and museum. Ulvaeus has recently embarked on a new project, a Mamma Mia dinner party based on the hit musical, taking the party atmosphere of his music into a pop-up Greek tavern in the leafy island district of Djurgårdsen.

“I didn’t anticipate that everyone would be so deliriously happy,” Ulvaeus said of the new concept, which is sold out for the whole of its run. “A lot of people over 40 haven’t had a place to party for a long time – they don’t go to nightclubs – this is somewhere they can come, let loose and have a party.

“Not a day goes by that I’m not reminded of the love people have for the music. It’s such a privilege. When people come up to me in the street and tell me about the fun nights they’ve had with my music – it’s something I never get tired of.”

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