France, Austria, and the Netherlands have urged the European Union to expand its crackdown on what it labels ‘hate speech,’ in a move that further blurs the line between tackling discrimination and silencing dissent.
In an informal document seen by Politico, the three governments call for Brussels to “redouble their efforts to combat racism, antisemitism, xenophobia and anti-Muslim hatred” and ensure that “no support is given to entities hostile to European values, in particular through funding.” The proposal urges the EU to swiftly pull funding from organizations that “fail to uphold its values,” while tightening oversight and expanding the bloc’s criminal and operational response to ‘hate crimes.’
This is especially hypocritical, as the EU is not willing to order more transparency for politically active NGOs funded by Brussels itself but wants to hunt down other organizations promoting ideas they don’t like. With vague terminology, in practice, anyone can become an offender against ‘European values,’ and any criticism can be labelled ‘hate speech.’
The new push comes amid a rise in political tension within the EU over what constitutes ‘European values.’ The measures requested by the three member states would hand Brussels wider power to determine which views or organizations align with those values—and which do not.
The text calls on the Commission to use budget rules to exclude any entity accused of “inciting hatred” and to require participants in EU-funded programs like Erasmus+ and CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) to sign pledges that they “respect and promote EU rights and values.” This mechanism effectively links access to EU money to political conformity, discouraging open criticism of the Union’s ideological agenda.
The document also seeks to extend these controls into the digital space, urging national leaders to stress that “EU values apply equally in the digital sphere.” While protection of minors is highlighted as a key goal, the broader scope risks giving EU institutions the power to brand inconvenient opinions online as hate speech, limiting debate under the guise of safeguarding tolerance.
The EU is already pushing for more control over the digital world, positioning itself as the power that decides what minors can and cannot see online. This risks educating children based on a political agenda without ever getting introduced to contradictory political views.
Presented a day before the European Council’s meeting in Brussels—where issues like Ukraine, defense, migration, and competitiveness are on the agenda—the timing underscores a pattern in which ‘hate speech’ laws and funding conditions are used not only to address extremism, but also to marginalize political opposition and restrict ideological diversity within the EU itself.
