Key facts
- 58 MEPs urged the EU Commission to shield the International Criminal Court from U.S. sanctions.
- The MEPs described the U.S. sanctions as an "attack by a foreign power on an entity on EU territory."
- Lawmakers want the Commission to activate the Blocking Statute to prevent EU firms from complying with U.S. sanctions.
- The U.S. administration announced sanctions against the ICC following criticism over its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its investigation into US troops in Afghanistan.
- The sanctions could severely hamper the court's operations by barring US banks and companies from doing business with it after an initial grace period.
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum are urging the European Union to shield the International Criminal Court (ICC) from potential U.S. sanctions, describing the measures as an "attack by a foreign power on an entity on EU territory."
Fifty-eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, calling for the activation of the EU's Blocking Statute. This statute is designed to prevent European companies from complying with extraterritorial foreign sanctions.
The U.S. administration announced sanctions against the ICC last Friday, following criticism of the court over its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its investigation into the conduct of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. After an initial six-month grace period, these sanctions could significantly disrupt the court's operations by restricting its access to financial and technological services.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had previously described the threat of sanctions against the ICC as "not acceptable," but the EU has yet to take concrete action. The MEPs emphasized that the "survival of the values the European Union upholds is at stake, as is Europe’s autonomy and credibility."