EU Policy On The Death Penalty
European Union Luxembourg Presidency
PC.DEL/258/05
7 April 2005
ENGLISH only
Permanent Council No 549
7 April 2005
EU STATEMENT ON DEATH PENALTY IN THE USA
The European Union is firmly opposed to the death penalty in
all circumstances. The EU has on several occasions explained in detail its position
regarding the death penalty with particular respect to recent cases concerning
mentally ill persons in the United States. Let me refer in particular to our interventions
in the Permanent Council on 29 July last year and the Human Dimension Implementation
Meeting in Warsaw in October last year. We are firmly convinced that the execution
of persons suffering from mental disorder is contrary to widely accepted human
rights norms.
While welcoming positive developments regarding the death penalty in the
USA, in particular in the area of juvenile death penalty with the decision
of the US Supreme Court on 1 March this year, the EU wishes to express its
concern at yet another case within the area of mental disorder. Mr. Bill
Benefiel is due to be executed in the State of Indiana on 21 April this
year in spite of a long history of severe mental illness. He has been
diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder and has undergone a number
of evaluations prior to his arrest for capital murder. We appeal to the
appropriate authorities in the State of Indiana to grant Mr. Benefiel
relief from his death penalty. We expect that these authorities will be
informed of this appeal.
The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia1
align themselves with this statement.
1Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association
Process
Letter to Indiana Governor;
Letter to Indiana Parole Board
Embassy of Luxembourg
2200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 265-4171 Fax (202) 328-8270
E-mail: washington.info@mae.etat.lu
