16/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the request of the Italian delegation, EU justice and home affairs ministers agreed on Tuesday on the idea of universal condemnation of capital punishment. Speaking at the end of the informal meeting of the JHA Council in Dresden, German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries said all ministers consider the death penalty should be refused. The EU, she said, will continue to take a stance in favour of abolishing the death penalty. Italy intends to put an initiative to the UN aimed at banning capital punishment internationally. Commissioner Franco Frattini announced that the future Portuguese EU Presidency had agreed that 10 October 2007 should be the European Day against the Death Penalty. A ceremony is expected to be held in October in Portugal. (bc)