MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.1.2007

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Eugenijus Maldeikis, Roberta Angelilli and Eoin Ryan
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the initiative for a universal moratorium on the death penalty

B6‑0037/2007

European Parliament resolution on the initiative for a universal moratorium on the death penalty

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on a universal moratorium on the death penalty and most particularly that of 23 October 2003[1],

–  having regard to resolutions on the moratorium on capital punishment adopted by various UN bodies including the Commission on Human Rights,

–  having regard to the EU’s statements in support of a universal moratorium on capital punishment,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the European Union decided, in the guidelines on the death penalty adopted by the European Council in Luxembourg on 6 June 1998, to work within international bodies towards a universal moratorium on the death penalty and its abolition in due course,

B.  whereas on July 27, 2006 the Italian Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved a motion which committed the Italian government to: ‘present in the next UN General Assembly, after consulting the EU partners, but without being subject to the unanimous approbation of all EU Members, a proposal for a resolution for the universal moratorium on the death penalty, with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty in all the world’,

C.  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 a United Nations General Assembly-based initiative for a worldwide moratorium on executions with view to full abolition of the death penalty,

1.  Takes note of the initiative of the Italian Chamber of Deputies backed by the Council of Europe;

2.  Calls on the Council Presidency to take action to ensure that a debate on a resolution concerning a universal moratorium on capital punishment is held in the UN General Assembly;

3.  Urges the EU institutions and the Member States to make every endeavour in the political and diplomatic spheres to ensure the most appropriate support for this resolution within the UN General Assembly;

4.  Asks the Council Presidency and the Commission to inform the European Parliament of the results achieved in the UN General Assembly at the first possible plenary sitting after the conclusion of the deliberations;

5.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council Presidency, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General and all the member countries of the UN General Assembly.

• [1]  OJ C 82 E, 1.4.2004, p. 609.