EU ban on wearing of Nazi symbols

19.1.2005

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0218/05
by Koenraad Dillen (NI)
to the Commission

According to various reports in the press (inter alia, in the Gazet van Antwerpen on Tuesday, 18 January 2005), the European Commissioner for Justice is considering introducing an EU-wide ban on publicly wearing Nazi symbols. Commissioner Frattini wishes to discuss a total ban at the meeting of European Justice Ministers on 27 January 2005. What gave him the idea was the controversy about the British Prince Harry.

Such a proposal would undoubtedly be ethically justifiable, out of respect for the memory of the victims of Nazism, and it is therefore praiseworthy.

But in order to avoid any political exploitation, it seems desirable that such a ban should also extend to symbols of other totalitarian systems which have millions of victims on their conscience, particularly regimes inspired by Marxism.

Does not Commissioner Frattini consider that a ban which was limited to Nazi symbols would fail to achieve its aim and might justifiably be accused of having been inspired by selective indignation?

At the meeting on 27 January, will Commissioner Frattini also advocate an EU-wide ban on wearing Communist symbols such as the hammer and sickle, Che Guevara T-shirts, pictures of Stalin, Mao, etc.? These symbols refer to regimes and an ideology which, just like totalitarian Nazism, cost millions of people their lives.

OJ C 299, 08/12/2006