Slovenia Wants EU Hate Law Expanded to Include Totalitarianism

Brussels, 22 April

Slovenia is among five former communist countries call for the extension of a new EU racism and hate law to include totalitarian regimes.

While EU justice ministers hammered out on Thursday a deal on a new law outlawing racism, hate speech and the denial of genocide, the proposal does not include political acts of hate, which were sought by the Baltic trio, Poland and Slovenia.
The five countries that have a common communist past instead managed to secure a declaration that calls on the European Commission to include political act of hate, foremost totalitarian regimes, into the law.
While the agreement reached on Thursday in Luxembourg suggests that the 27 member states managed to overcome historical divisions on the issue, the final document is actual compromise, with the debate expected to continue.
The main dilemma in drafting the new law has been how far to extend the definition of acts of hate without curbing free speech. A clear divide opened up on this issue between the group including Great Britain, Ireland and Scandinavian countries and those with a history of totalitarian regimes, including Slovenia.
The compromise reached on Thursday envisages an EU-wide ban on the "public incitement of violence and hate" against a group or members of a group based on race, colour of skin, religion, nationality and ethnicity. Sanctions include a jail term of one to three years.
Another provision of the law foresees the outlawing of the denial or trivialising of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. This part of the law is aimed foremost at outlawing the denial of genocide.
The document was labelled as an "important political signal - foremost to the young generation" by German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, whose country currently presides over the EU.
The deal however is a compromise and many analysts point to its lack of specific crimes. Direct mention is made only of racism, but there is no direct mention of religious or political hate acts.
The proposal by Estonia, which was backed by four other countries, including Slovenia, to outlaw acts of political hatred, foremost totalitarian regimes, was not included in the final deal.
However, the five countries managed to secure a declaration in which they call on the European Commission to continue the debate on adding extra criteria to the law, including political and religious hate acts.
The EU member states have two years to bring their legislation into line with the new regulations. Slovenia is expected to do this as it overhaul its penal code, expectedly in the autumn of this year, Justice Ministry State Secretary Robert Marolt pointed out.

Slovenia Wants EU Hate Law Expanded to Include Totalitarianism

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