EP: RESOLUTION DEMANDS WORLDWIDE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS

October 7, 2010: To coincide with the eighth World Day against the Death Penalty, MEPs adopted a resolution condemning capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances and calling for an unconditional worldwide moratorium on executions.
"Death can never ever be considered an act of justice", said EP president Jerzy Buzek at the opening of the plenary session on October 6, 2010.
"A universal moratorium on executions with a view to total abolition in all states which still practise the death penalty" is the key demand of Parliament's resolution, which was adopted by 574 votes to 25 with 39 abstentions.
MEPs argue that the new European External Action Service (EEAS) should provide guidance for a comprehensive and effective European death penalty policy with regard to dozens of confirmed European nationals facing execution in third countries, which "shall include strong and reinforced mechanisms in terms of the identification system, the delivery of legal assistance, EU legal interventions and diplomatic representation".
Belarus remains the only European country still applying the death penalty in practice, although the European Parliament calls on Kazakhstan and Latvia to amend their national laws that still allow the death penalty for certain crimes under exceptional circumstances. (Sources: sofiaecho.com, 07/10/2010)