EU Policy On The Death Penalty
European Union Luxembourg Presidency
CFSP Statement
Declaration by the Presidency on the US Supreme Court Decision on Roper v. Simmons
Date of release : 02-03-2005
Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations
The European Union welcomes the decision of the United States
Supreme Court in Roper v. Simmons, in which
the Court has held that the execution of juvenile offenders is "cruel and
unusual punishment" prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution.
The European Union 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. In the case of
Christopher Simmons, the European Union expressed its opposition to such executions
in an
amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Embassy of Luxembourg
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E-mail:
washington.info@mae.etat.lu
