11/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - The EU has welcomed the abolition of the death penalty in Suriname. On 9 May, the European Union welcomed the Surinam Parliament's decision to adopt a new penal code abolishing capital punishment. Federica Mogherini, the EU high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated “Suriname's recent ratification of a new penal code, which includes abolition of the death penalty, is an important step forward that sends a welcome signal to other countries in the region and beyond”. Suriname is a member country of the ACP group (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) linked to the EU through the Cotonou Agreement. Up until now Suriname has applied a de facto moratorium on the death penalty. The EU's next step will be to call for the signing and ratifying of the 2nd Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights. (AN)