The European Union has expressed regret over Jordan's execution of six individuals on 21 June 2026, calling on the country to reinstate a moratorium on capital punishment as a step toward abolition. In a statement issued on 24 June 2026, the EEAS spokesperson reiterated the EU's unequivocal opposition to the death penalty in all cases, arguing that it violates the right to life and the absolute right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The statement also noted that capital punishment has not been shown to deter crime and renders judicial errors irreversible.
Jordan had upheld a de facto moratorium on executions since 2017, making the 21 June executions a reversal of that practice. The EU encouraged Jordan to reintroduce a moratorium as a first step toward full abolition. The statement did not specify the crimes for which the six individuals were executed, nor did it detail any further EU measures or diplomatic consequences. The EU's position on the death penalty remains consistent with its longstanding policy of opposing capital punishment globally, often raising the issue in bilateral dialogues and multilateral forums. No prior EU statements on Jordan's death penalty practices have been recorded in recent months, making this the first public reaction to the country's shift in policy.