05/07/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Saturday 3 July, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service welcomed, on behalf of the EU, the US Attorney General’s announcement on 1 July, to impose a moratorium on federal executions until the US Department of Justice reviews its policy on the death penalty. “This is a promising first step that we hope will bring a definitive end to this practice at federal level, and pave the way for the nationwide abolition of capital punishment in the US”, the spokesperson said in a statement. The Trump administration had reinstated the death penalty at federal level in July 2020 (see EUROPE 12525/32) and thirteen people have been executed since then. The spokesperson reiterated the EU’s firm opposition to the death penalty “at all times and in all circumstances”. (CG)