The European Union (EU) calls on the Singapore authorities to halt the execution of Mr Prabu N Pathmanathan, to commute his sentence to a non-capital sentence and to adopt a moratorium on all executions.

Today, more than two thirds of the countries of the world have become abolitionist in law or practice which confirms a global trend towards abolition of the death penalty. The EU holds a principled position against the death penalty and is opposed to the use of capital punishment under any circumstances. No compelling evidence exists to show that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime more efficient than imprisonment. Furthermore, any errors - inevitable in any legal system - are irreversible. The EU will continue supporting the universal trend towards the eradication of the death penalty.