EU:Poland has vetoed plans to create a European day against the death penalty because other EU states would not agree to broaden the event to celebrate the right to life.
At a meeting of EU justice ministers, Polish deputy justice minister Andrzej Duda insisted the proposed event on October 10th must also refer to abortion and euthanasia.
"If we have to discuss against the death penalty, we should also discuss abortion and euthanasia. You cannot talk about one element of the right to life," he told the media after taking the unusual step of vetoing a proposal accepted by all 26 other EU states.
The EU is now expected to simply issue a statement condemning the death penalty and hold a conference rather than have an official day.
The tough stance reflects the ultra-conservative attitude of the Polish government, led by the Kaczynski twins - Lech, the president, and Jaroslaw, the prime minister.
The brothers' party, Law and Justice, is campaigning on a traditional pro-family policy platform in the upcoming elections in Poland on October 21st. It also receives a lot of support from the staunchly Catholic and anti-EU broadcaster Radio Maryja.
Abortions are only legal in Poland when they save the life of the mother, in cases of rape or incest and if the unborn child has severe physical deformities. Earlier this year, an attempt to tighten the law further by amending the constitution narrowly failed.
The veto by Poland provoked an angry reaction from several member states, including Spain and Italy. Italian justice minister Clemente Mastella, one of the strongest advocates of the European day against the death penalty, accused the Poles of engaging in "hostile behaviour".
"This is an arrogant act by the Poles and is clearly motivated by the upcoming election," he told journalists after the meeting.
Spanish justice minister Mariano Sanchez Bermejo said it was difficult to understand Poland's decision to wield its veto. "Twenty-six countries in the EU want to celebrate a symbolic day against the death penalty but only one, Poland, is against," he said.
EU diplomats at the meeting said that no member state supported the Polish veto, even though both Ireland and Malta have a complete ban on abortion. They said there was frustration at Warsaw's often uncompromising stance at EU council meetings.
Since joining the EU in 2004, Poland has proved a difficult partner on several major issues ranging from opening partnership talks with Russia to the EU reform treaty.
The failure to agree on a European day against capital punishment is a major disappointment for Portugal, currently hosting the six-month presidency of the EU. It was the first European nation to abolish the death penalty in 1876 and it wanted to use the initiative to pressure other countries to ban the death penalty. All 27 EU states ban the death penalty, a key condition for EU membership.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan did not attend the meeting, but Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan later issued a statement strongly condemning the Polish veto.
"The EU must remain to the forefront in highlighting the need to abolish the death penalty in all parts of the world," he said. "I regret, disagree and condemn the decision made by the Polish government today."