Brussels: The European Union said on Friday it strongly supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the United States' announcement of sanctions against four ICC judges over the court's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Kuwait News Agency, EU Council President Antonio Costa stated in a post on X that "the EU strongly supports the International Criminal Court, a cornerstone of international justice," emphasizing that the court "does not stand against nations, it stands against impunity." He further stressed the importance of protecting the ICC's independence and integrity, asserting that "the rule of law must prevail over the rule of power."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her support in a post on X, stating that "the commission fully supports the International Criminal Court and its officials." She highlighted the court's role in holding perpetrators of the world's gravest crimes accountable and giving victims a voice. Von der Leyen affirmed that the ICC "must be free to act without pressure," underscoring that the European Union "will always stand for global justice and the respect of international law."
The United States announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on four judges of the ICC, a move several European and international parties described as a "dangerous precedent" undermining the independence of the international judiciary.