Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE). – (FI) Madam President, once again we have to stress the European Union’s long–term commitment to opposing the death penalty in all cases, and regardless of the circumstances.

Consequently, in our resolution we were keen to mention India, which has sentenced two people to death, Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar and Mahendra Nath Das. Although both are guilty of serious crimes, we cannot approve of their execution. The death sentence has not been carried out in India since 2004. India’s President, Pratibha Patil, did not grant either of the convicted men an amnesty at the end of May.

We have to take the message forward, so that India might still postpone the imposition of the death sentences and work to abolish the death penalty altogether. This is important for human rights to be established fully in India.