91999E2697

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2697/99

by Rosa Díez González (PSE) to the Council

(3 January 2000)

Subject: Information on European Union citizens condemned to death

Is the Council in possession of information on the numbers, the identities, the legal situations, the conditions of detention and the personal and family situations of nationals of Member States of the European Union condemned to death in other countries? Has it attempted to obtain this information, and, if so, will it forward it to the author of this question and to the European Parliament?

If the Council is not in possession of such information, does it not agree that steps need to be taken to establish a system for keeping proper records of these cases? What action does it intend to take to remedy this lack of information?

Reply

(28 February 2000)

The Council is not in possession of the information requested concerning the number of European Union citizens condemned to death in third countries.

The European Union, which is campaigning resolutely for the universal abolition of the death penalty, regularly intervenes to prevent third countries concerned from imposing or executing the death penalty, in particular following initiatives taken along such lines within the Council, by its members and/or its Presidency.