Crimes of the totalitarian Communist regime

31.1.2008

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0591/08
by Inese Vaidere (UEN)
to the Council

1. With the huge number of victims, the Nazi regime and the totalitarian Communist regime were equal; moreover, the number of victims of the latter was even larger. If the present proposal for a Framework Decision (5118/07) on combating racism and xenophobia stipulates criminal liability for persons who justify, deny or trivialise Nazi regime crimes, but the same does not apply to the crimes of the totalitarian Communist regime, do you not think that it could create an opinion in Europe that only one criminal regime created and participated in World War II?

2. In Latvia and other new Member States, crimes by the totalitarian Communist regime affected almost every family and their consequences are felt to this day. If we do not have the same attitude towards totalitarian Communist regime crimes as to Nazi regime crimes, how can we talk about an equal attitude of EU countries and citizens towards the history of Europe, which is the objective of the framework Decision? Could it not lead to the impression that there are two different classes (first and second) of victims?

3. Is the Council aware that the crimes of the totalitarian Communist regime, as under the Nazi regime, were very often based on ethnic principles and that the totalitarian Communist regime had a network of concentration camps — just like the Nazi regime?

4. Does the Council think that reconciliation with Nazi criminals is possible? If not, then is it possible to forgive criminals of the totalitarian Communist regime?

5. What is Council's opinion on the level at which the Conference on Crimes of Totalitarian Regimes (to be held in April 2008) should take place to realise the objectives of the framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia?

OJ C 40, 18/02/2009