EU: EU leaders expressed their support for Denmark yesterday as violent protests over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad continued in several Muslim countries.
But in a debate in the European Parliament some speakers said there were limits to free speech and emphasised the responsibility of the media when dealing with sensitive religious issues.
European Commission president José Manuel Barroso said he wanted to express his solidarity with the people of Denmark and to condemn the violent reaction to the cartoons.
"The commission condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the violence perpetrated against our offices in Gaza, and against the missions of the member states, in particular those of Denmark," said Mr Barroso, who also criticised the imposition of trade boycotts.
He said he supported the principle of freedom of speech, but added that the preservation of this freedom depended on its responsible use by individuals. "Freedom of speech is part of Europe's values and traditions. Let me be clear - freedom of speech is not negotiable.
"Freedom of speech has limits as well. These must be respected. They are defined and enforced by the law and legal systems of the member states of the EU. It is self-evidently unacceptable to go outside the law."
Karin Riis-Jorgensen, of the Liberal group, urged the commission to drop a plan floated last week to set up a voluntary code of conduct for the media on religion. "If we start undermining freedom of expression, our right to analyse any religion critically, our fundamental right to speak freely and express ourselves will be violated," she said.
The commission, which last week floated the idea that the media may sign up to a voluntary code of conduct on reporting sensitive religious issues, is seeking to stop the violent protests against the cartoons that have spread across the Muslim world.
In an address to the parliament, Austrian president Heinz Fischer also signalled that freedom of the press should not be sacrosanct in matters of religion.
"If a ban on pictorial representation constitutes an essential element of a religion, one ought not and must not offend against this principle twice - not only by disrespecting this ban, but also by reinforcing this hurtful violation of a taboo in the form of a caricature," he said.
"If billions of people are to live together peacefully on a planet, consideration for the values of the others and mutual respect should not be regarded as an expendable luxury."
A joint resolution drawn up by all the political groups in the parliament condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the burning of embassies of EU member states and threats issued against EU citizens.
It also defended the right to free expression and pointed out that in many countries where the violent protests were taking place, there is no freedom of speech or assembly.