Brussels: Several European leaders voiced concern Wednesday about US sanctions targeting officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), including its president and a senior lawyer in the prosecutor's office.
According to Anadolu Agency, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa expressed their firm support for the ICC, its President Tomoko Akane of Japan, and officials committed to the court's mission. In a statement on the US social media platform X, they emphasized the importance of allowing ICC judges and officials to act independently and without external pressure to deliver justice to victims of horrific crimes.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reiterated the bloc's "unwavering support" for the ICC, emphasizing its role as a cornerstone of international criminal justice and the global fight against impunity. She criticized the US decision to impose sanctions on ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, stating that such actions undermine the court's work and independence.
The British Foreign Office also expressed its support for the ICC's independence, with a spokesperson noting the UK's determination to hold accountable those responsible for serious international crimes. German Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Martin Giese echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of defending and protecting the ICC as an independent institution.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry deplored the sanctions, describing them as a flagrant attack on the ICC's independence and integrity. It underscored the court's indispensable role in ensuring accountability for serious crimes and contributing to victim protection and reparations. Similarly, the Netherlands' Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and France's Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions, stressing the need for international courts to carry out their mandates without interference.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged the US to lift the new sanctions, calling them "unacceptable" and encouraging states to defend institutions upholding human rights and the rule of law. The ICC, based in The Hague, strongly rejected the sanctions, describing them as "flagrant attacks" on judicial independence and noting that several of its judges and officials are under US sanctions.
The measures are part of sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump in February 2025, targeting ICC officials such as Akane and Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, a senior trial lawyer at the Office of the Prosecutor.