European Parliament resolution on the initiative in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty
Date: 2007-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: UN resolution, death penalty, penalty, the EU's international role

25.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 250 E/91

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Thursday 1 February 2007

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 3
Article 3b (new)

Article 3b

The Commission shall report annually to the European Parlia-
ment and the Council on the results of the multiannual sec-
toral programme described in Article 7 of the Protocol.

Amendment 4
Article 3c (new)

Article 3c

On the basis of the report submitted by the Commission pur-
suant to Article 3a and after consulting the European Parlia-
ment, the Council shall if appropriate confer upon the Com-
mission a negotiating mandate with a view to the adoption of
a new Protocol.

Amendment 5
Article 3d (new)

Article 3d

The Commission shall evaluate each year whether Member
States whose vessels fish under the Agreement have complied
with reporting requirements.

P6_TA(2007)0018

Moratorium on the death penalty

European Parliament resolution on the initiative in favour of a universal moratorium on the death
penalty

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on a universal moratorium on the death penalty, in particular

those of 23 October 2003 (1), 6 May 1999 (2) and 18 June 1998 (3),

— having regard to the resolutions on the moratorium on capital punishment adopted by various UN

bodies, including the UN Commission on Human Rights,

— having regard to the EU's statements in support of a universal moratorium on capital punishment and
the statement on abolition of the death penalty delivered on 19 December 2006 in the UN General
Assembly, which was signed by 85 countries from all geographical groups,

— having regard to the Guidelines on EU policy towards third countries on the death penalty adopted by

the General Affairs Council on 29 June 1998,

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of the Rules of Procedure,

(1) OJ C 82 E, 1.4.2004, p. 609.
(2) OJ C 279, 1.10.1999, p. 421.
(3) OJ C 210, 6.7.1998, p. 207.

C 250 E/92

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

25.10.2007

Thursday 1 February 2007

A. whereas the death penalty is a cruel and inhuman punishment and a violation of the right to life,

B. whereas the abolition of the death penalty is a fundamental value of the European Union and a require-

ment for countries seeking EU membership,

C.

deeply concerned by the fact that national laws still exist, or have been reintroduced, in dozens of
countries around the world, providing for the death penalty and allowing the execution of thousands
of human beings each year,

D. whereas, at the same time, progress towards the worldwide abolition of the death penalty continues;
whereas the complete abolition of the death penalty in Liberia, Mexico, the Philippines and Moldova
during the past years and the rejection by the Peruvian Congress of a draft law introducing the death
penalty for crimes of terrorism are to be welcomed,

E. whereas the EU decided, in the framework of its Guidelines on EU policy towards third countries on the

death penalty, to work within international bodies towards the abolition of the death penalty,

F. whereas on 9 January 2007 the Italian Government and the Council of Europe decided to work
together to gather as much support as possible for the current UN General Assembly-based initiative
for a worldwide moratorium on executions, with a view to full abolition of the death penalty,

G. whereas on 27 July 2006 the Italian Chamber of Deputies unanimously adopted a resolution calling on
the Italian Government to present to the next UN General Assembly, after consulting its EU partners,
but without being subject to unanimous approval, a motion for a resolution for a universal moratorium
on the death penalty, with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty throughout the world; and
whereas at its meeting of 22 January 2007 the EU's General Affairs Council agreed that in New York
the German Presidency of the EU would assess the opportunities and ways of reopening discussions on
and consideration of the proposal for a universal moratorium on the death penalty,

H.

condemning the execution of Saddam Hussein and the media's exploitation of his hanging, and deplor-
ing the way it was carried out,

Reiterates its long-standing position against the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances
1.
and expresses once more its conviction that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhance-
ment of human dignity and to the progressive development of human rights;

Calls for a worldwide moratorium on executions to be established immediately and unconditionally
2.
with a view to the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, through a relevant resolution of the current UN
General Assembly, whose actual implementation the UN Secretary-General should be able to monitor;

Calls on the EU Presidency to take appropriate action as a matter of urgency to ensure that such a
3.
resolution is urgently submitted to the current UN General Assembly; calls on the EU Presidency and the
Commission to keep Parliament informed of the results achieved in the current UN General Assembly in
relation to a universal moratorium on the death penalty;

Urges the EU institutions and the Member States to make every endeavour in the political and diplo-

4.
matic spheres to ensure the success of this resolution within the current UN General Assembly;

Strongly supports the initiative of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and Government backed by the EU

5.
Council, the Commission and the Council of Europe;

6.
Strongly urges all EU Member States to ratify without delay the Second Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), aiming at the complete abolition of the death
penalty;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary-

7.
General, the Chair of the UN General Assembly and all the UN member states.