EU media code set to follow Muslim cartoons row

A new EU media code of conduct may follow an international row over the publication of cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad in many European newspapers.

EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini is concerned that controversy over the caricatures may damage relations between Christian, secular and Islamic Europeans.

“What we are planning is to organise, in the near future, a round-table with the relevant actors… touching on very difficult, complicated issues,” said Frattini’s spokesman on Friday.

“On the one hand we have freedom of expression, on the other respect for religion and opinions.”

A top level meeting of media bosses, journalists and religious leaders is to be hosted by the European commission by the end of April.

The gathering of 15 to 20 experts and community leaders will do the groundwork for a full-scale conference “later this year”.

Last September – just nine days before a Danish newspaper sparked the row by publishing 12 cartoons of Islam’s founder – Frattini proposed a voluntary code of conduct for media organisations.

He identified media and internet dissemination of ideas about Islam, inequality and terrorism as a key factor in the recruitment of extremists.

“It is... false attribution of certain values and practices to Islam that creates negative stereotypes in the media and society about the religion, particularly since the attacks of September 11 2001,” he argued in a policy paper.

“This can contribute to negative stereotypes, thus fuelling grounds for attacks on Muslims on the one hand and exacerbating feelings of discrimination within Muslim communities on the other.”

Speaking on Thursday, the Italian commission vice-president lamented a furore over the cartoons that has damaged community relations.

Some Arab leaders have also warned that Muslim anger could benefit Islamist terrorists and lead to more London or Madrid bomb attacks in Europe.

“Such events do not facilitate dialogue between faiths and cultures and provide barriers to the integration process to which the member states of the [EU] are committed,” Frattini said.

EU officials suggest that the Muhammad caricature clash may see commission proposals to counter race and religious hatred dusted off.

Frattini pushed hard in the first half of 2005 for an anti-racism and xenophobia directive to be progressed by national governments.

But some countries, such as Sweden, are worried that the legislation could hit freedom of expression by outlawing “hate speech”.

Officials now believe “possibly” the moment has come to revisit the issue – but only if governments are ready to act.

The Finnish EU presidency, in the second half of 2006, has given early indications Helsinki may revive proposals.

“This may prompt some reconsideration of the issue,” said a commission official.

“We still see some governments are against some kind of approximation of law in this area.”

“There is no point in doing something only the commission likes, may be Finland’s presidency will take it forward.”

A recent EU court ruling could see the commission fix statutory criminal penalties for racial or religious hatred should the legislation find a new lease of life.

But the commission’s official spokesman is keen to play down any justice policy developments as a consequence of the cartoons row.

“There has been no suggestion to the commission that the legal framework existing in the EU is somehow deficient in relation to this affair,” he said.

EU officials close to Brussels chief José Manuel Barroso are said to be nervous about entering the controversy at all.

European trade commissioner Peter Mandelson broke the commission’s silence on Thursday, a Frattini statement then followed.

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