Brussels, 31/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - On 28 January, the Presidency issued the following Statement on behalf of the EU:
"The EU opposes the death penalty in all cases and calls for its universal abolition. As a first step, the EU calls for moratoria on executions. Where the death penalty still exists the EU insists that this penalty be only used according to the internationally accepted norms and standards. The EU strongly deplores the execution of the six individuals sentenced to death...