Some other Croatian MEPs want to ban communist symbols as well.
After a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the agenda item “Banning of Nazi and Fascist Symbols and Slogans Across the EU”, Croatia’s MEP Ivan Jakovčić (IDS), who initiated the debate, expects that the ban will soon be regulated by law at the European level. However, two other MEPs from Croatia, Dubravka Šuica (HDZ) and Ruža Tomašić (Croatian Conservative Party), complained why the communist symbols were not placed at the same level as fascism and Nazism, reports Večernji List on December 14, 2017.
“I want to abolish all the slogans and symbols of fascism and Nazism, but I would add communism as well,” said Šuica. “This will not pass if communism is not included. I support the initiative to ban the symbols of all totalitarian regimes, but it is hypocritical to demand that two regimes should be banned, and not communism,” said Tomašić.
However, despite their appeals for the communist symbols to be grouped together with fascism and Nazism, the representatives of the Council of the EU and the European Commission, as well as most other MEPs who participated in the debate, condemned just fascism and Nazism.
“In accordance with the EU Council’s framework decision on combating racism and xenophobia, EU member states must, through their criminal laws, ensure that public encouragement of hatred and violence through the use of fascist and Nazi symbols is punished,” said Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, speaking on behalf of the European Commission.
Ivan Jakovčić, who promoted this topic in the European Parliament, hoping to continue the failed IDS’ initiative from the Croatian Parliament to ban the use of the Ustasha slogan “For Homeland, Ready,” spoke in his speech last night about the Ustashas and the Chetniks. “Unfortunately, there are still countries and governments in the EU who do not impose serious sanctions and strong reactions to the symbols and slogans of fascism, Nazism, the Ustashas and the Chetniks,” said Jakovčić.
Dubravka Šuica spoke during the debate not only as an HDZ MEP, but as the first speaker from the European People’s Party.
“Unlike colleagues from Western Europe, those of us coming from Croatia still have fresh in our minds memories of the totalitarian regime that was neither fascist nor Nazi, but did fight against individuals and the groups it considered as a threat. Therefore, I regret that you, who drafted this proposal, did not include communism as well,” said Šuica.
Translated from Večernji List.
