Deal reached on holocaust-denial laws

Holocaust denial will be punishable by jail terms across the European Union - but only if it incites violence or hatred against specific groups - under measures due to be agreed today.

After six years of negotiation the agreement is likely to be sealed despite pressure from the Baltic states for the crimes committed by Stalin to be brought into the scope of the new law. The issue of holocaust denial and the use of Nazi insignia has been contentious for years. In 2005 Luxembourg tried to push through tough EU legislation on the subject but was blocked by Italy.

Consensus over the latest deal has been achieved by whittling away at the impact of the new legislation, leaving a great deal of discretion to countries to implement their own law. There will be no EU-wide ban on the use of Nazi symbols.

- INDEPENDENT