European media should consider a voluntary code of conduct to avoid a repeat of the furore caused by the publication across Europe of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, an EU commissioner said today.
In an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph, European Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini said such a self-regulating charter would encourage the media to show "prudence" when covering religion.
In a statement clarifying his comments, the former Italian foreign minister said he had never suggested imposing a code of conduct on the press, nor did the European Commission have any plans or powers for EU regulation in this area.
Mr Frattini said he had offered to facilitate a dialogue between journalists' organisations and religious leaders.
By adopting a voluntary charter, "the press will give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression," he told the newspaper.
"We can and we are ready to self-regulate that right." The cartoons, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper last September before being reprinted across Europe, sparked a wave of protests around the world.
Newspapers which have published them say they are exercising their right to freedom of speech, while critics say the cartoons are deliberately offensive. Depicting the Prophet Mohammad is prohibited by Islam.
Mr Frattini said millions of Muslims in Europe felt "humiliated" by the cartoons.
A voluntary code would urge the media to respect all religious sensibilities but would not offer privileged status to any one faith, he said.
The EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana is to travel to Arab and Muslim countries in an attempt to calm the anger caused by the cartoons.