According to European Commission Chairman Ursula von der Leyen, the United States “deeply regrets” the sanctions being applied to four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed sanctions on four judges, who the US claims are “illegitimate and baseless” with regard to the US and its allies, on Thursday.
Von der Leyen responded to the news on Friday, stating that the Hague-based court possessed “full support” from the EU.
Von der Leyen stated on X on Friday that the ICC “gives victims a voice” and “the holds perpetrators of the world’s gravest crimes to account.” It must be free to take any pressure off of it.
Volker Turk, the head of the UN’s human rights divisions, described the US decision as “profoundly disturbing.”
“Attacks against judges for the performance of their judicial functions, at national or international levels, go against the principles of the US’s longstanding rule of law and equal protection of the law,” Turk said.
He continued, calling for the removal of the sanctions, adding that “these attacks are deeply corrosive of good governance and the proper administration of justice.”
The court, which represents the 27 EU member states’ national governments, was described as “a cornerstone of international justice” by Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, and stressed that its autonomy and integrity must be safeguarded.
The Commission firmly supports the @IntlCrimCourt & and its employees.
The ICC gives victims a voice and demands that those responsible for the world’s most serious crimes are held accountable.
It must be self-assured and free to act.
We will always support international law and its enforcement.
The court’s decision to launch an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan led to the US State Department’s release, according to the US State Department.
Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin, and Slovenian Beti Hohler are the four sanctioned judges.
Slovenia, a member of the EU, “rejects pressure on judicial institutions” and urged the EU to use its blocking statute.
Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a post on X that “a citizen of an EU member state will propose the immediate activation of the blocking act.”
The mechanism allows Brussels to impose sanctions against European businesses that the EU considers to be unlawful. In the past, Washington has used the power to thwart trade agreements with Cuba and Iran.
Slovenia regrets the US government’s recent sanctions against 4 judges from the @IntlCrimCourt, including one from Slovenia. Courts must act in the name of the law and justice, not by pressure on judicial institutions or by influencing judicial operations. … pic. twitter.com/xhwBj8XeMz
The judges are now included in a list of people who have been specifically sanctioned by the US. Any US assets they may have will be blocked, and they will be placed on a screening service that is used by many banks around the world to make it difficult for those who have been sanctioned to hold bank accounts, open bank accounts, or transfer money.
Since Trump took office for a second term on January 20th, the US has placed restrictions on an ICC official for the first time.
Trump issued a broad executive order shortly after taking office that slapped anyone who participated in ICC investigations. Critics warned that broad language like that could obstruct the flow of justice by preventing witnesses from presenting evidence.
However, according to Trump, such measures were required by the 2024 arrest warrants issued for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu.
