1. National transposition measures

Member State || National transposition measures communicated to the Commission under Article 10 || Date of adoption

Belgium || Loi du 30 juillet 1981 tendant à réprimer certains actes inspirés par le racisme ou la xénophobie || 30/07/1981

Loi du 10 mai 2007 tendant à lutter contre certaines formes de discrimination || 10/05/2007

Loi du 23 mars 1995 tendant à réprimer la négation, la minimisation, la justification ou l'approbation du génocide commis par le régime national socialiste allemand pendant la seconde guerre mondiale || 23/03/1995

Loi du 15 février 1993 créant un Centre pour l'égalité des chances et la lutte contre le racisme || 15/02/1993

Code pénal || 08/06/1867 Amended through Act 1999-05-04/60; Act 2003-01-23/42; Act 2007-05-10/35

Titre préliminaire du Code de procédure pénale || 05/05/1878 (latest amendement 12/11/2013)  

Code d'instruction criminelle || 17/11/1808 Amended through Act 10-07-1967; Act 1998-03-12/39; Act 1999-05-04/60; Act 2003-01-06/34; Act 2005-12-27/34;  

Constitution || Coordinated on 17/02/1994

Bulgaria || Наказателен кодекс на Република България || 27/05/2011 (entry into force)

Закон за административните нарушения и наказания || 27/05/2011 (entry into force)

Наказателно-процесуален кодекс || Effective 29/04/2006, last amended 23/12/2008

Czech Republic || Zákon čislo 40/2009 Sb. trestní zákoník ve znění zákona č. 306/2009 Sb. || 01/01/2010 (entry into force)

Zákon č. 141/1961 Sb., o trestním řízení soudním (trestní řád) ve znění zákona 306/2009 Sb. || 01/01/1962 (entry into force)

Zákon č. 40/1964 Sb., občanský zákoník || 01/01/1965 (entry into force)

164/1947 Sb. Dohoda sjednaná vládou Spojeného království Velké Británie a Severního Irska, vládou Spojených států amerických, Prozatímní vládou Francouzské republiky a vládou Svazu sovětských socialistických republik o stíhání a potrestání hlavních válečných zločinců evropské osy || 08/08/1945 (entry into force)

Usnesení předsednictva České národní rady č. 2/1993 Sb., o vyhlášení Listiny základních práv a svobod jako součásti ústavního pořádku České republiky || 28/12/1992 (entry into force)

Zákon č. 418/2011 Sb., o trestní odpovědnosti právnických osob a řízení  proti nim nim || 01/01/2012 (entry into force)

Denmark || Straffeloven || Consolidated version published by Order No 1034 of 29/10/2009

Lov om rettens pleje or retsplejeloven || Consolidated version published by Order No 1053 of 29/10/2009

Germany || Strafgesetzbuch || 16/12/2010

Gesetz über Ordnungswidrigkeiten || 29/07/2009

Gesetz zur Regelung des öffentlichen Vereinsrechts || 21/12/2007

Ireland || Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 || 29/11/1989

Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1994 || 19/05/1997

Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 || 07/08/1851

Criminal Law Act 1997 || 22/04/1997

Interpretation Act 2005 || 17/10/2005

Estonia || Karistusseadustik || 06/06/2001

Kriminaalmenetluse seadustik || 12/02/2003

Eesti Vabariigi põhiseadus || 28/06/1992

Meediateenuste seadus || 16/12/2010

Greece || Συντάγματος || Constitution

Νόμος 927/1979 || 25/28/06/1979

Νόμος 3304/2005 ||

Ποινικού Κώδικα || Criminal Code

Spain || Ley Orgànica 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal y Ley Orgánica 5/2010 || 23/11/1995

Ley Orgánica 6/1985, de 1 de julio, del Poder Judicial || 01/07/1985

France || Code pénal || 01/01/2014 (consolidated version)

Loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur la liberté de la presse || 29/07/1881

Croatia || Kazneni zakon (KZ) (OG 125/11, 144/12 ) || 21/10/2011 (last amended 19/12/2012)

Zakon o kaznenom postupku (ZKP) || 15/12/2008 (last amended 04/12/2013)

Zakon o odgovornosti pravnih osoba za kaznena djela || 11/09/2003 (last amended 07/12/2012)

Italy || Legge 9 ottobre 1967, n. 962, Prevenzione e repressione del delitto di genocidio || 09/10/1967

Legge 13 ottobre 1975, n. 654, Ratifica ed esecuzione della convenzione internazionale sull’eliminazione di tutte le forme di discriminazione razziale || 13/10/1975

Decreto legge 26 aprile 1993, n. 122, Misure urgenti in materia di discriminazione razziale, etnica e religiosa || 26/04/1993

Codice penale || 19/10/1930 (last amended 15/10/2013)

Cyprus || ΝΟΜΟΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΑΤΑΠΟΛΕΜΗΣΗ ΟΡΙΣΜΕΝΩΝ ΜΟΡΦΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΚΔΗΛΩΣΕΩΝ ΡΑΤΣΙΣΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΞΕΝΟΦΟΒΙΑΣ ΜΕΣΩ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΙΝΙΚΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ || 21/10/2011 (entry into force)

Latvia || Law on Crime (Criminal Law) || 17/06/1998

Criminal Procedure Law || 21/04/2005

Lithuania || Lietuvos Respublikos Baudžiamasis Kodeksas || 26/09/2000

Luxembourg || Code pénal || 19/07/1997

Code de procédure pénale || 09/12/1808 (last amended 29/03/2013)

Hungary || A Büntető Törvénykönyvről szóló1978. évi IV. törvény (Btk.) || 31/12/1978 (entry into force)

A Jogi személlyel szemben alkalmazható büntetőjogi intézkedésekről szóló 2001. évi CIV. törvény (Jszbt.) ||

A Büntetőeljárásról szóló 1998. évi XIX. törvény (Be.) || 10/03/1998

Malta || Kodiċi Kriminali || 10/06/1854 (amended by ACT No. XI of 17/07/2009)

Netherlands || Wetboek van Strafrecht || 03/03/1881 (amended 09/12/2004)

Wetboek van Strafvordering ||

Burgerlijk Wetboek ||

Austria || Strafgesetzbuch || 23/01/1974 (latest relevant amendment 27/06/2012)

Verbandsverantwortlichkeitsgesetz || 28/09/2005 (latest relevant amendment 05/12/2007)

Verbotsgesetz 1947 || 08/05/1945 (latest relevant amendment 27/02/1992)

Austrian Code of Criminal Procedure || 30/05/1990 (latest

Poland || Kodeks karny || 02/04/1997

Kodeks postępowania karnego || 06/06/1997

Ustawa z dnia 28 października 2002 r.o odpowiedzialności podmiotów zbiorowych za czyny zabronione pod groźbą kary || 28/10/2002

Portugal || Codigo Penal Português || 15/02/1929 (latest amendment 19/04/2013)

Lei 109/2009 || 15/09/2009

Romania || Legea 286/2009 || 24/07/2009

Legea 187/2012 || 12/11/2012

Slovenia || Kazenski zakonnik || 01/11/2008 (latest amendment 02/11/2011)

Zakon o odgovornosti pravnih oseb za kazniva dejanja || 21/11/2005

Zakon o kazenskem postopku || 01/01/1995 (entry into force)

Slovakia || Trestný Zákon 300/2005 || 20/05/2005 (latest amendment 26/07/2012)

Zákon 262/2011 pozmeňujúci zákon 301/2005 || 13/07/2011

Finland || Rikoslaki || Last amendment 13/05/2011

Sweden || Den svenska brottsbalken || 01/01/1965 (entry into force)

Den svenska rättegångsbalken || 01/01/1948 (entry into force)

United Kingdom || Public Order Act 1986 || 07/11/1986

Accessories and Abettors Act 1861 || 06/08/1861

Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 || 08/11/ 1995

Crime and Disorder Act 1998 || 31/07/1998

Criminal Justice Act 2003 || 20/11/2003

Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 || 08/11/1995

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003   || 20/02/2003

Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 || 30/06/2010

Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 || 25/05/2006

Interpretation Act 1978 || 20/07/1978

Insolvency Act 1986 || 25/07/1986

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 || 24/07/2002

Serious Crimes Act 2007 || 30/10/2007

Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 || 18/03/1987

Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 || 01/08/1967

Criminal Justice (No 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 || 27/07/2004

Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 || 21/12/1954

Magistrates Court (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 || 24/11/1981

Crimes Act 2011 (Gibraltar) || 14/04/2011

Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 2011 (Gibraltar) || 14/10/2011

Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006 || 14/12/2006

Transnational Organised Crime Act 2006 (Gibraltar) || 20/04/2006

2. Data on application of the Framework Decision submitted by the Member States

Information on the number of incidents reported, cases prosecuted and cases sentenced is essential in order to understand the practical application of the Framework Decision. However, as recurrently reported, data collection on hate speech and hate crime is not uniform in the EU and thus not sufficient for reliable cross-country comparisons.

Limited data collection in a Member State (where few incidents are reported, recorded and prosecuted) can be an indicator that hate crimes are not effectively tackled. The Commission asked all Member States to provide it with figures about the incidence of and the criminal response to hate speech and hate crime. BE, CZ, DK, DE, IE, FR, LV, LU, HU, AT, PL, RO, SI, SK, FI, SE and UK have submitted these data:[1]

· In BE the police registered 860 cases of incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence in 2011 and 432 cases in the first half of 2012. A total of 726 cases of racism and xenophobia (including hate speech, hate crime and discrimination) were reported to the prosecutor in 2012, and 66 judgments (49 of which were convictions, 4 acquittals and 8 suspensions) were passed. [2]

· In CZ, 4 persons were convicted in 2011 for ‘encouragement to hatred against a group of people or to restrict their rights and freedoms’ and 2 persons were convicted for committing the same offence in 2012. No figures were provided as regards cases reported or prosecuted.

· DK registered 38 cases of hate speech reported in 2011, 19 prosecutions, and 5 convictions. As for 2012, 36 cases were reported, and there were 15 prosecutions and 6 convictions.[3]

· Police forces of the Länder registered a total of 1605 cases of incitement to hatred or violence in 2011 in DE. Judgment was passed in 400 cases, 265 individuals were convicted. 1733 cases were registered by police forces in 2012 but there are no statistics available on their criminal follow-up yet. [4]

· IE reports that there were 142 racially motivated incidents in 2011 and 98 in 2012. It has not submitted data on prosecutions or judgments passed.[5] As regards specifically the offence of ‘incitement to hatred’, there were no incidents recorded in 2011 and there were 11 recorded in 2012.

· FR reports an 82 % rate of criminal response to incidents of racism, xenophobia and antisemitism in 2012, and 431 convictions in 2011 for offences related to racism, antisemitism and discrimination.[6]

· In LV criminal prosecution was started against 3 persons in 2011 and 2 persons in 2012 for ‘provocation of national, ethnic or racial hatred’.[7] For this crime a total of 11 persons were tried between 2011 and 2013. No persons were tried for ‘incitement of religious hatred’.[8] Information with regard to convictions/acquittals was not submitted.  

· LU refers to 3 judgments on cases of hate speech in the period 2011-2013, 2 resulting in convictions and 1 acquittal.

· HU has reported that in 2011, 101 ‘hatred crimes’ were registered and there were 40 prosecutions. In 2012, 105 ‘hatred crimes’ were registered and there were 24 prosecutions. Most of the prosecutions in the period 2011-2013 did not result in convictions. 

· AT registered in 2011, as regards the offence of incitement, 10 prosecutions, 6 convictions, 1 acquittal and 1 pre-trial diversion. In 2012 there were 17 prosecutions, 2 acquittals, and 2 pre-trial diversions; a different source registered 10 convictions in cases where this was the leading offence. As regards the offence of denying, grossly trivialising, approving or justifying National Socialist genocide or other Nazi crimes against humanity, in 2011 there were 78 prosecutions, 45 convictions, 7 acquittals and 10 pre-trial diversions. In 2012 there were 65 prosecutions, 9 acquittals and 5 pre-trial diversions. A different source registered 58 convictions where this was the leading offence.

· PL registered 323 criminal proceedings on hate speech and hate crime, 40 prosecutions and 20 convictions. In 2012, 473 criminal proceedings were registered, 75 prosecutions and 34 convictions.

· RO registered 25 cases of ‘incitement to racial / national hatred’ in 2011, leading to no prosecution. There were 66 cases registered in 2012, again leading to no prosecution. Four judgments were rendered on this offence in 2012.

· SI reports that there were 5 prosecution proposals and 4 convictions in 2011, as well as 17 prosecution proposals and 16 convictions in 2012, under the offence of ‘inciting or provoking to hatred, violence or intolerance’.

· According to statistics submitted by SK, there were 11 judgments in 2011 and 6 in 2012 on offences corresponding to Article 1 of the Framework Decision. As regards crimes with a racist or xenophobic motivation, the aggravating circumstance was applied in 16 cases in 2011 and a further 16 in 2012.

· FI registered 11 incidents ‘suspected’ of constituting ‘ethnic agitation’ in 2011, 3 prosecutions and 1 conviction. In 2012 there were 4 prosecutions and 6 convictions under this offence. The police also registered 175 cases of defamation and 153 cases of menace ‘suspected’ of having a racist motivation. However there are no statistics showing the level of prosecution and judgments passed in cases of defamation and menace with a racist motivation.[9] The provision on racist and xenophobic motivation as an aggravating circumstance has been applied so far in approximately ten cases per year.

· SE identified just over 5490 hate crimes in 2011, 72 % of which had a racist or xenophobic motivation and 12 % an anti-religious (Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, Christianophobic and others) motive. In March 2012, 70 % of identified hate crimes (principal offence) reported in 2010 had been cleared up. 7 % were personally cleared up, 63 % of the cases were cleared up technically and 30 % were, at the end of March 2012, unresolved.[10]

· UK:

- Cases where incitement (‘stirring up hatred’) was the main offence:

a) England and Wales: in 2011/2012, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recorded 17 charges for this offence, resulting in 13 convictions and 4 acquittals. The number of cases charged and reaching a first hearing in the magistrates’ courts was 30 in 2011 and 23 in 2012 (excluding possession). The Ministry of Justice recorded 9 persons convicted of this offence in 2010 and 6 in 2011 (excluding hatred on grounds of religion).[11]

b) Scotland: 0 proceedings were recorded in 2010/11 for this offence, and 1 proceeding in 2011/12, resulting in a conviction.

            - Cases where hate crime was the main offence:

a) England and Wales: in 2010/2011, 31 486 racially and religiously aggravated offences were recorded by the police. In 2011/2012 the number of hate crime cases referred to the CPS by the police for a charging decision was 14 781. The most commonly prosecuted crimes in 2011/2012 were offences against the person (49.5 %) and public order offences (31.5 %). In this period there were also 12 367 completed prosecutions; 10 412 convictions with 84.2 % successful outcomes; 12 357 racist hate crime defendants referred to the CPS for charging decision by the police; 11 774 racist offences prosecuted, of which 84.4 % were successful, and 76.3 % of all successful outcomes involved convictions; 415 cases motivated by hostility on grounds of religion referred to the CPS by the police; 593 cases involving religiously aggravated hostility prosecuted, of which 80.8 % were successful, and 71.2 % of successful outcomes were due to convictions; the principal offence categories for racial and religious hate crimes are offences against the person (49.6 %) and public order offences (32.5 %). The number of racially and religiously aggravated offences charged and reaching a first hearing in the magistrates’ courts was 14 815 in 2011 and 24 535 in 2012. The Ministry of Justice recorded 2 731 judgments for racially and religiously aggravated offences in 2010 and 950 in 2011 (excluding the basic offences).

b) Scotland: for racially aggravated conduct, 1022 persons were prosecuted in 2010-2011 (with 839 convictions) and 1083 (with 898 convictions) in 2011-2012. However, a different source recorded 759 persons prosecuted (with 614 convictions) in 2010-2011  and 797 (626 convictions) in 2011-2012.

c) Northern Ireland: in 2010-2011, there were 298 prosecutions for offences with racial and religious hostility motivation, of which 51 were for an indictable conviction and 247 for a summary conviction. In 2011-2012, 332 prosecutions were brought for offences with racial and religious hostility motivation, of which 68 were for an indictable conviction and 264 for a summary conviction.

[1]               Each Member State uses different legal terms. In this overview the terms used have the following definitions. Judgment means a judicial decision taken by a court, Conviction means that the accused person was found guilty of the crime. Acquittal means that the accused person was not found guilty and was discharged. Prosecution means the conducting of legal proceedings against someone.    

[2]               Rapport Annuel 2011, ‘ Discrimination/Diversité’, Centre pour l‘égalité des chances et la lutte contre le racisme.

[3]               Statistics extracted from the police computer systems (POLSAS).

[4]               These data are (partly) based on the ‘report on the protection of the constitution’. The statistics refer to crimes against the state and are not comparable to criminal prosecution statistics.

[5]               Statistics can be found at the website of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration.

[6]               Rapport 2012 sur la lutte contre le racisme, l‘antisémitisme et la xénophobie, Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme.

[7]               Statistics provided by the Prosecutor’s office.

[8]               Statistics provided by the Court Administration.

[9]               These are the provisions used in FI for cases of hate speech against individuals, whereas the offence of ‘ethnic agitation’ is applied where the victim is a group.

[10]             Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebygganderådet - Brå): Hate crime 2011 (Statistics on police-reported offences with an identified hate crime motive. A summary of report no. 2012:7). 

[11]             Crown Prosecution Service (CPS): Annual Report on hate crime and crimes against older people for 2011/2012 (October 2012). The CPS data cannot be directly compared with the Ministry of Justice data, because they relate to different time periods and because different cases progress through the criminal justice systems at different rates.