Posted in November 2004

International Standards abolishing the Death Penalty

Article 2 of the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which is politically binding on EU member states, provides that no one shall be condemned to death or executed.

International Standards restricting the use of the Death Penalty

The EU takes an active stance against the death penalty in its relations with accession countries and third countries. First, the abolition of the death penalty is a prerequisite to accession to the EU. The abolition of the death penalty for peacetime crimes is an element of the Copenhagen Criteria for accession countries to the European Union. Second, the EU has developed Guidelines on European Union policy towards third countries on the death penalty (General Affairs Council, Luxembourg, 29 June 1998). These Guidelines contain a list of minimum standards on the use of the death penalty.