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 Marco Cappato, Marco Pannella, Frédérique Ries, Sarah Ludford and Marios Matsakis
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the initiative for a universal moratorium on the death penalty

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

B6‑0359/2007

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

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its resolutions of 1 February 2007[1] and 26 April 2007[2] 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 decision adopted on 18 June 2007 by the General Affairs/External Relations Council (CAGRE) to present a resolution calling for a moratorium on executions at the opening of the 62nd UN General Assembly,

–  having regard to the decision taken by its Conference of Presidents on 12 July 2007 approving the establishment of a European Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October each year,

–  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.  Deplores the fact that the text proposed by the EU Presidency to other main sponsors does not reflect the clear focus which the resolution on the moratorium should have as a crucial step towards the abolition of capital executions;

2.  Expresses its concern at the fact that, on the eve of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, no clear date has been communicated for the formal placing of the resolution on the moratorium on the Agenda of the UNGA under the heading of 'human rights';

3.  Reiterates its call on the EU Member States to do their utmost to involve the largest number of countries as co-authors of the resolution;

4.  Recognises, once again, the leadership role played by the Italian Government; calls on the Italian Government, the Portuguese Presidency and all EU Member States to adopt a text that clearly focuses on a 'universal moratorium on the death penalty' as a step towards the abolition of the death penalty and to submit the resolution at the High-Level Segment of the 62nd UN General Assembly, in order to immediately seek the co-sponsorship of countries in all continents;

5.  Calls on all EU Member States to immediately prepare a plan of action for a successful outcome to the vote both within the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly and in Plenary by the end of the year;

6.  Mandates an ad hoc delegation to visit the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly ahead of the vote on the resolution, present Parliament's views to national delegations and attend the relevant meetings of the Committee;

7.  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;

8.  Calls on all institutions and Member States of the European Union, together with the Council of Europe, to declare 10 October a European Day against the Death Penalty from 2007 onwards,

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

10.  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.

• [1]  Texts adopted, P6_TA(2007)0018.
• [2]  Texts adopted, P6_TA(2007)0166.