The Parliamentary Assembly in worried about the rise of neo-nazism in European countries, such as “Golden Dawn” in Greece, and the widespread lack of legal framework to combat extremism and hate speech.
The European Court of Human Rights has defined the foundations of a democratic and pluralistic European society, based on tolerance and the respect of human rights and dignity.
There must be no impunity for the rising tide of intolerance, racist violence and racist political parties that turn against democracy and human rights.
Therefore the Assembly should examine the different examples in national constitutional and criminal law, concerning the limits placed on extremist parties in the interest of the defense of a constitution based on pluralist democracy and human rights and dignity.
In light of these examples and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the Assembly shall develop general principles in this respect.