Strasbourg, 28/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 27 September, in Strasbourg, MEPs called on the EU Council to present a resolution on a moratorium on the death penalty to the 62nd UN General Assembly in order to have it adopted before the end of the year. The vote is in line with the debate that unfolded in plenary on Tuesday 25 September (EUROPE 9509). In a resolution passed by 504 votes in favour, 45 against and 14 abstentions, the House also reiterates its full support for the establishment of a European Day against the death penalty on 10 October, calling on the future Polish government to fully support this initiative after legislative elections on 21 October. On 18 September in Brussels, the Polish government had blocked a decision by the 27 EU justice minsters who were to take an unanimous stance on the matter.
The ministerial committee of the Council of Europe, which is composed of 47 members states including Russia, decided on Wednesday 26 September to call for a European Day against the death penalty to be held on 10 October each year. On this occasion, ministers expressed the hope that the EU would join the initiative as soon as possible. Representatives of member states therefore chose to ignore the reticence of Polish authorities. One diplomat told EUROPE that “as is customary at the Council of Europe, we sought a consensus for a very long time”, but it was finally decided that a vote should be taken and “46 member states voted in favour, with abstention from Poland”. It is to be noted that Portugal, the country that currently holds EU Council presidency, will be involved in organising the European Day. Terry Davis, Council of Europe Secretary General, welcomed the decision saying that the European Day will provide an opportunity to engage in a debate with those who, within the 47 member states, continue to support capital punishment. It will also provide an opportunity, he said, to explain why the death penalty has been abolished and why it should remain so. (bc/oj)