More than 60 MEPs from across the political spectrum consider the US sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a “foreign attack on EU territory” and urge the Commission to intervene. They want the Commission to activate a legislative shield known as the blocking statute, which would prevent EU firms from complying with U.S. sanctions.
“The ICC is under attack at precisely the moment when we need it the most, as the Court is carrying on investigations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. We should keep all options on the table. If we use the blocking statute, we have one shot, and we should do it well. So, it should be well prepared,” High Representative Kaja Kallas said, calling on firms not to follow the sanctions.
Donald Trump’s administration had already targeted nine judges and the chief prosecutor of the Court, cutting them off from all U.S. service providers, including banking services.
Irish European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne, who represents Dublin’s presidency of the Council of the EU, in a statement told lawmakers that the sanctions delay provides “an opportunity for dialogue, which we should take advantage of while remaining ready to take all necessary measures.”
