MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.9.2007

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Council
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Laima Liucija Andrikienė
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on implementation of the Council decision on the moratorium on the death penalty

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0357/2007

B6‑0357/2007

European Parliament resolution on implementation of the Council decision on the moratorium on the death penalty

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its resolutions of 1 February and 26 April 2007 on the initiative for a universal moratorium on the death penalty,

–  having regard to the Guidelines on EU policy towards third countries on the death penalty of 3 June 1998,

–  having regard to the statement on abolition of the death penalty delivered on 19 December 2006 in the UN General Assembly by the EU Presidency, which was initially signed by 85 countries in all geographical groups,

–  having regard to the statement read by the EU Presidency on behalf of the European Union during the fourth session of the UN Human Rights Council on 29 March 2007,

–  having regard to the support for a moratorium publicly expressed by the Secretary-General of the UN during his recent visit to Rome,

–  having regard to the establishment of a European Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October each year, as supported also by its Conference of Presidents on 12 July 2007;

–  having regard to Article 2 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights,

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

A.  whereas the call for a universal moratorium on the death penalty represents a clear political decision to seek the abolition of the death penalty in all countries,

B.   whereas its resolutions of 1 February 2007 and 26 April 2007 called on the EU Presidency to urgently submit a resolution to the current UN General Assembly and to keep Parliament informed of the results achieved; whereas at this stage no resolution has been submitted to the current UN General Assembly,

C.   whereas the statement on the death penalty presented by the European Union in the UN General Assembly on 19 December 2006 has now gathered 95 signatures from countries in all geographical groups,

1.   Reminds the EU Presidency and Member States that the main political content of the resolution to be tabled in the UN General Assembly must be the adoption of a worldwide moratorium as a crucial step towards the abolition of the death penalty;

2.   Calls on the EU Presidency and Member States to seek to have the resolution on the moratorium placed on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly under the heading of 'human rights', in order for it to be adopted during the 62nd session of the General Assembly; reiterates its call upon the EU Presidency to do its utmost to persuade as many countries as possible to co-author the resolution;

3.  Calls on the EU Presidency to encourage those remaining countries which have not signed and ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to do so, and those Member States that have not signed Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights on the death penalty to do so;

4.  Reiterates its full support for the EU institutions and Member States to declare, together with the Council of Europe, a European Day against the death penalty on 10 October each year;

5.  Calls on the Council and the Commission to take every possible opportunity to support the establishment of regional pro-moratorium and abolitionist coalitions;

6.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly and the UN Member States.