EU lawmakers demand action to shield ICC from U.S. sanctions
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A group of 58 European Parliament members is pressing Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to activate the EU Blocking Statute and defend the International Criminal Court from U.S. sanctions that they say threaten international justice and European autonomy.
European Parliament members wrote to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, demanding that the EU executive use every available tool to protect the International Criminal Court (ICC) from the consequences of recent U.S. sanctions. The letter, signed by 58 MEPs including ECON chair Aurore Lalucq and Dutch EPP lawmaker Dirk Gotink, called for a firm response to the U.S. administration and for the activation of the EU Blocking Statute once a 180-day grace period expires.
The United States has sanctioned several ICC judges after the court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the new measures could sever the court’s access to the dollar-based financial system and many technology service providers.
"We formally call for the urgent deployment of all instruments at our disposal to protect the International Criminal Court from the consequences of these sanctions," the MEPs wrote.
"The survival of the values the European Union upholds is at stake, as is Europe’s autonomy and credibility in protecting its citizens and entities against foreign sanctions," the letter added.
Foreign affairs ministers in Luxembourg have discussed pragmatic ways for EU companies to continue working with the ICC, but the parliamentarians argued that half-measures are not enough and that a much stronger response is needed.