USA - The European Union criticises US over death penalty

EU criticises US over death penalty. The European Union said in a statement released today that it "notes with deep regret" that, with the execution of Marvallous Keene by the US state of Ohio that day, the US had carried out its 1000th execution by lethal injection since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. "The EU is opposed to the use of capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances and has consistently called for its universal abolition," said the statement issued by Sweden, current holder of the rotating presidency of the EU. "We believe that the abolition of the death penalty is essential to protect human dignity, and to the progressive development of human rights."