Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002786/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Pina Picierno (S&D)
Last weekend, Croatian singer Marko Perković – whose stage name is ‘Thompson’ – held a concert in Zagreb before an audience of some 500 000 people. The artist is known for his ultra-nationalist rhetoric and his frequent references to the Ustasha regime, a Croatian fascist movement active during the Second World War and responsible for grave crimes against humanity.
During the event, numerous highly concerning incidents were documented. These included the repeated use of the salute ‘Za dom spremni’ (‘For the homeland – ready!’) the official motto of the Ustasha regime, which is now banned under Croatian law because of its link to the extermination of hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and political opponents in the Jasenovac concentration camp[1].
Such demonstrations cannot be deemed to constitute artistic or cultural expression, but rather pose a genuine threat to the democratic cohesion and founding principles of the Union.
Can the Commission therefore say:
- 1.Whether it intends to propose, as part of the EU strategy to combat extremism and racism, more binding measures to limit the spread of symbols and slogans associated with totalitarian regimes?
- 2.Whether it plans it plan to step up monitoring and coordinated-response measures, including through its relevant agencies, to combat the spread of neo-fascist ideologies in Member States?
Submitted: 9.7.2025
- [1] https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/07/07/croatian-right-wing-singer-marko-perkovic-and-fans-make-pro-nazi-salutes-at-record-breakin.