The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area–Background Paper 2017 that, as a positive consequence of this, several retentionist countries have been considering the constitutionality of this form of punishment; 20. Calls on the Council and Commission to identify ways in which to improve the implementation and effectiveness of the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty during the current review of the EU’s human rights policy, in particular in view of the planned revision of the Guidelines in 2011; European Parliament resolution of 8 October 2015 on the death penalty, 2015/2879 (RSP) (2015) […] 1. Reiterates its condemnation of the use of the death penalty and strongly supports the introduction of a moratorium on the death penalty, as a step towards abolition; emphasises once again that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and that the EU’s ultimate aim is universal abolition; 2. Condemns all executions wherever they take place; continues to be deeply concerned regarding the imposition of the death penalty on minors and on persons with mental or intellectual disability, and calls for an immediate and definitive end to such practices, which violate international human rights standards; expresses its grave concern about the recent mass trials leading to a vast number of death sentences; […] 4. Urges the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Member States to continue fighting against the use of the death penalty and to strongly support the moratorium as a step towards abolition, to continue to push for abolition worldwide, to strongly urge countries still carrying out capital punishment to comply with international minimum standards, to reduce the scope and use of the death penalty, and to publish clear and accurate figures on the number of sentences and executions; urges the EEAS to remain vigilant with regard to developments in all countries, in particular Belarus as the only European country which still has the death penalty, and to use all means of influence at its disposal; 5. Welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in certain US states and encourages the EU to continue its dialogue with the USA with a view to total abolition, in order to stand together in addressing capital punishment worldwide; 96