The European Parliament,

A. having regard to its unconditional opposition to the death penalty,

B. whereas in the State of Louisiana in the United States a sentence of death is to be carried out on Dalton Prejean, a thirty-year-old black U.S. citizen, who was sentenced in May 1978 for the murder of a white policeman,

C. whereas when he committed the murder Dalton Prejean was only 17 years old and was therefore still a minor,

D. whereas this would be the first death sentence carried out in Louisiana on a person who was still a minor when he committed the crime,

E. recalling its previous statements of opinion condemning the use of capital punishment for crimes committed by minors or the mentally retarded, which at present is allowed in only six countries in the world,

1. requests that this sentence passed on Dalton Prejean should not be carried out and should be commuted to a period of imprisonment;

2. hopes that the US authorities will the death penalty in every State and commute all death sentences already passed to sentences of imprisonment;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Governor of the State of Louisiana, the President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States.