The European Union deeply regrets that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have broken de facto moratorium on death penalty in February 2025.

The European Union reiterates its strong opposition to the death penalty in all cases and in all circumstances, as it is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and human dignity. The death penalty fails to act as a deterrent to crime and makes possible miscarriages of justice irreversible.

The EU will continue to work for the abolition of the death penalty in the few remaining countries that still apply it.