EU Policy On The Death Penalty
Représentation Permanente du Luxembourg
auprès de l’OSCE
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PC.DEL/144/05
3 March 2005
ENGLISH only
European Union Luxembourg Presidency
Permanent Council No 546
3 March 2005
EU STATEMENT ON JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY IN THE USA
The European Union welcomes the decision of the United States Supreme
Court in
Roper v. Simmons on 1 March, in which the Supreme Court held that “the
Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments forbid imposition of the death penalty on
offenders who were under the age of 18 when their crimes were committed.”
As is well known, the EU opposes capital punishment under all
circumstances and has consistently espoused its universal abolition. This
view has been expressed in a number of demarches in specific cases,
including those involving the pending execution of juveniles. We are also
pleased to see that the Supreme Court, inter alia with reference to
the EU amicus curiae brief in
this case, has acknowledged the relevance of international opinion
against the
juvenile death penalty.
We are confident that this welcome development will further enhance the
dialogue between the EU and the USA on the abolition of the death penalty.
The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia1
align themselves with this statement.
1Croatia
continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process
Embassy of Luxembourg
2200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 265-4171 Fax (202) 328-8270
E-mail:
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