EU may ban wearing of swastikas after Harry's gaffe

Published on Tuesday 18 January 2005 00:40

THE European Union may ban the use of Nazi symbols after Prince Harry - dubbed a "royal idiot" by one MEP - wore a swastika armband at a party.

Franco Frattini, the EU’s justice and home affairs commissioner, said he was open to discussing the issue at a ministerial meeting on 27 January.

"It may be worth looking into the possibility of a total ban, a Europe-wide ban," his spokesman, Friso Roscam Abbing, said in Brussels yesterday.

"Commissioner Frattini shares the general feeling of opprobrium on the use of the swastika and other Nazi symbols."

The call came after several German Conservatives, Socialists and Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament urged a ban following the publication of a photograph of Harry, the third in line to the throne, wearing a Nazi outfit at a fancy-dress party.

One German Socialist, Helmut Kuhne, called the prince a "royal idiot" for not knowing the consequences of wearing the insignia and the Second World War history linked to the Nazi swastika. Germany already bans such symbols.

Mr Roscam Abbing said Mr Frattini would urge EU ministers to use the swastika incident to push for agreement on EU-wide rules to combat racism, fascism and anti-Semitism.

A proposal was introduced two years ago but discussions have failed to make headway.

Mr Roscam Abbing said officials would take care not to violate freedom of expression in devising such a ban.

The Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies questioned the need to ban the swastika.

"I understand how the burden of history weighs upon my German colleagues’ view," he said. "However, banning symbols cannot ban evil and risks playing into the hands of those who would seek to subvert the very liberties we most champion."