At the opening of the seminar in the Palace of Justice in Vienna, Austria’s Justice Minister Gastinger stressed the need for the Commission proposal for a framework decision against xenophobia and racism. In this context, she also said it appeared to be very important to protect freedom of expression, but at the same time to state quite clearly where this freedom ends and where criminal law begins.
Numerous experts from all Member States are discussing a possible common approach to xenophobia and racism.
In her opening address, Gastinger noted that Austria had a particular responsibility to combat the phenomena of racial hatred, public incitement to hatred, and xenophobic violence.
"Democracy, the rule of law and above all human rights form the basis for preventing and responding to conflicts of interest and misunderstandings", she declared.
Justice Minister Gastinger, together with Commission Vice-President Frattini and Beate Winkler, the Director of the European Monitoring Centre on racism and xenophobia, will summarise the results of the seminar at a press conference on 22.6 at 12.30.
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