Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime

Tabled by Patricia Chagnon, Harald Vilimsky, Nicolaus Fest, Jaak Madison

10. Recalls that freedom of Removed: expression, Added: expression is a foundational value of democratic societies and should not be Removed: unjustifiably restricted; further recalls that any legislation on hate speech and hate crime should be grounded in the principles of necessity and proportionality; underlines that freedom of expression must be exercised within the law and in line with Article 11 of the Charter and should not be exploited as a shield for Added: exploited to commit hate speech and hate crimes; Added: stresses, however, that the lack of a precise and objective definition of ‘hate speech’ could lead to disproportionate and unjustified restrictions; stresses that hate speech is a highly subjective notion and could therefore be exploited to limit freedom of expression, which is fundamental to our democracies;

Wording as published by the EP, in English. PE756.671