Block US sanctions on ICC, EU lawmakers tell Commission
Automatically applying U.S. sanctions "stems from the time when we thought that the Americans were still our friends," said Dutch lawmaker Dirk Gotink.
EU lawmakers are urging the European Commission to prevent European companies and banks from applying U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), as tensions rise over the court's actions concerning Israel. Since the ICC issued a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the U.S. has targeted nine ICC judges and four prosecutors.
Dutch lawmaker Dirk Gotink of the European People’s Party stated that to protect its values, the EU must protect the ICC and its staff by activating the blocking statute, which would prevent European companies from complying with U.S. sanctions.
The blocking statute could provide operational support to the ICC by preventing financial institutions from being blocked from their accounts due to automatic application of U.S. sanctions. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited the ICC in The Hague in support, and Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen called the blocking statute the "nuclear option."
French judge Nicolas Guillou emphasized the stakes of protecting democracy and the rule of law in Europe, while French Socialist and economy committee chair Aurore Lalucq urged the Commission to act at the highest political level. Dutch lawmaker Gotink noted the overcompliance of European financial firms with U.S. sanctions, stating that banks in Europe apply American sanctions immediately without questioning, leading to account blocking.
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