The European Parliament,

‐   having regard to its resolutions of 1 February 2007(1) and 26 April 2007(2) on the Italian 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 the abolition of the death penalty delivered on 19 December 2006 at 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 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union(3),

‐   having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.   whereas the call for a universal moratorium on the death penalty is 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,

D.   whereas the EU Presidency has received a mandate from the Council to draft and table, in cooperation with Italy, a text on an international moratorium on the death penalty, to be sent to the United Nations General Assembly,

1.  Reaffirms to the EU Presidency and Members States that the main political content of the resolution must be the adoption of a worldwide moratorium as a crucial step towards the abolition of the death penalty;

2.  Urges the EU Presidency and Member States to present a resolution on the moratorium at the 62nd United Nations General Assembly under the heading of 'human rights', in order for it to be adopted before the end of 2007; reiterates its call on the EU Presidency to involve as many countries as possible as co-sponsors of 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 for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms on the death penalty to do so;

4.  Reiterates its full support to EU institutions and Members States to declare, together with the Council of Europe, a European Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October each year; regrets the lack of unanimity in the Council on this issue and calls on the future Polish Government to fully support this initiative that reflects the basic values of the European Union; calls on all institutions and Member States of the EU, together with the Council of Europe, to continue supporting this action and mandates its President to promote this political initiative;

5.  Calls on the Council and the Commission 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 governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly and the governments of the UN Member States.

(1) Texts adopted, P6_TA(2007)0018. (2) Texts adopted, P6_TA(2007)0166. (3) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.