EU lawmakers urge Commission to protect ICC from U.S. sanctions
A group of 58 European Parliament members asked Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to activate the EU Blocking Statute to shield the International Criminal Court from sanctions imposed by the United States.
European Parliament members wrote to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, urging the EU executive to use all available tools to safeguard the International Criminal Court (ICC) from the impact 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 clear stance toward the U.S. administration and the activation of the EU Blocking Statute once a 180-day grace period ends.
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 cut the court off from 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 said a stronger response is needed.