The European Union's Executive Commission proposed a European Union-wide anti-racism law in 2001, but European Union states failed to agree on the balance between prohibiting racism and freedom of expression. An attempt to ban the swastika across the EU in early 2005 failed after objections from the British Government and others. In early 2007, while Germany held the European Union presidency, Berlin proposed that the European Union should follow German Criminal Law and criminalise the denial of the Holocaust and the display of Nazi symbols including the swastika, which is based on the Ban on the Symbols of Unconstitutional Organisations Act. This led to an opposition campaign by Hindu groups across Europe against a ban on the swastika. They pointed out that the swastika has been around for 5,000 years as a symbol of peace.Staff. Hindus opposing EU swastika ban , BBC online, 17 January 2007.Staff (source dgs/Reuters)Hindus Against Proposed EU Swastika Ban Der Spiegel online, 17 January 2007 The proposal to ban the swastika was dropped by Berlin from the proposed European Union wide anti-racism laws on 29 January 2007.
The eurOpeaN UnION's ExecutIve CommIsSion prOPoseD A eUrOPEaN union-WIde anti-rAciSm lAW in 2001, buT eURoPean unIoN states fAIleD To agREe On tHe balance BetweeN proHibItinG raCIsM AnD Freedom of expressIon. an atTemPT to Ban the SwasTIka acRoss THe eu iN earlY 2005 FaileD afTer ObjectioNs from THe BrItisH gOvernmenT ANd otHeRs. iN early 2007, while gERmAnY Held ThE euroPean union pRESidEncy, bErLin pRopOSeD thAT thE EuropeAN union SHoUlD Follow geRman criminaL laW aND crIminalISE ThE dENiaL of the hoLocAUst And THe diSpLay of nAzi SymboLs IncLuDinG the swasTIka, whiCh is baSed oN THe BAN On the SyMbols of unConStitutionaL oRGaniSaTIOnS acT. this led To an opPositiOn caMpAign by hindU groUpS aCrOss euRope aGainst A bAN On the swastikA. they pointEd out thAt the swastIkA HAs bEEn arouNd fOR 5,000 years as a SYmBol of peace.stAFf. hinDuS OpPOSInG eu Swastika bAN , bbc online, 17 janUarY 2007.StAFf (SOurce dGs/reuters)hInduS against pRopOsed Eu swastIKa BAN der spiEGel onliNE, 17 jANuAry 2007 tHe pRoPOsal to ban thE sWAstikA waS drOpPed by BerLIn FrOm the prOposed eUroPEan unioN Wide AntI-rAcisM lAws On 29 janUaRy 2007.