EU must outlaw hate crime

Speech by Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP delivered to The European Parliament on Wed 14th Jun 2006

Sarah Ludford (ALDE). - Mr President, we have a huge and inexcusable gap in EU action. Our citizens must be very puzzled. On the one hand we have good laws and a new strategy to outlaw discrimination against people as employees and consumers.

However, the EU is failing to outlaw hate crimes against people as people. It is failing to delivery security from fear, even though we talk a lot about creating an area of freedom, security and justice. President Barroso enjoined us this morning to be proud of Europe and its values. So why is there a lack of action on hate crimes when Member States can agree criminal penalties for pollution crimes? Is it complacency? Is it ignorance? Is it a lack of political will?

I hope to avoid any more high-flown rhetoric about a Europe of values while our leaders refuse to act. MEPs are agreed, including, I am glad to say, Mr Gaubert for the PPE-DE Group, in demanding that action.

I would say to Mr Roszkowski that his mention of paedophiles in the context of sexual orientation is deeply misplaced and disgraceful. Nothing suggests that paedophilia is more prevalent among homosexuals proportionately - indeed it is probably the contrary.