A EUROPEAN ban on swastikas and other symbols used to incite racial hatred, prompted by the outrage over Prince Harry’s wearing of a Nazi uniform, will be proposed today as part of measures to combat racism.

Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, and European ministers will meet in Brussels to debate the ban, which lies in the balance after severe disagreement between governments.

Some countries, notably Germany and Austria, already ban Nazi symbols and would like to see the ban spread across the European Union. Britain has insisted that it is not necessary.

The ban probably would cover all symbols used to generate hatred, including “white power” signs and the SS symbol of Hitler’s security police.

The European Commission, the European Union executive, proposed the ban last month, causing a fierce debate.

Eastern European politicians have demanded that the ban be extended to Soviet symbols, such as the hammer and sickle, pointing out that communism killed far more people than Nazism, while Hindu groups have responded by launching a campaign to save the swastika, a 5,000-year-old Hindu religious symbol.

Neo-Nazis have sent hatemail to Franco Fratini, the European Commissioner for Justice, who suggested the idea.

“The wearing of these symbols has caused a lot of pain for a large number of people,” a spokesman for the Commission said. “We should be aware of the pain caused.”

The ban was proposed by German MEPs after the furore surrounding the Prince wearing the Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party, which coincided with the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Signor Fratini said: “EU action is urgent and has to forbid very clearly the Nazi symbols in the European Union.”

The swastika is banned outside academic and educational contexts in Germany and Austria. France, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands have general bans on inciting racism by displaying symbols.

The proposal for the ban marked a stark departure for the EU, which has never before proposed any act of censorship and could pass legislation only if all 25 European members agree. Although Signor Fratini won the support of Luxembourg and Germany, Britain insisted that there was no need for a German-style ban in the UK. As a result, Signor Fratini watered down his proposal, so that each country would ban “the use of symbols that generate hatred or racism”, but each country would decide the scope of the ban.

A commission spokesman said: “It would not be sensible to legislate banning people from watching ’Allo ’Allo!”

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