EU Considers Activating Blocking Statute to Shield ICC from US Sanctions

Brussels (ANTARA) — The European Commission indicated on Monday (9 October) that the European Union was considering activating its Blocking Statute to protect the International Criminal Court (ICC) from US sanctions, according to Spanish newspaper Demócrata and Anadolu Agency.

At a press briefing in Brussels, EU spokesperson Siobhan McGarry said the instrument, designed to counter the effects of sanctions imposed by third countries within EU territory, remained an option under consideration to protect senior ICC officials from US punitive measures.

She said the EU had discussed plans to activate the statute with member states following the announcement of US sanctions against the ICC.

McGarry said measures to protect the ICC’s operations were still being prepared, stressing that no decision had been taken on whether or when to activate the statute.

“The Blocking Statute remains an option under consideration,” she said.

“Of course, we want to do anything we can to protect the court’s work. At present, we are in contact with several ICC member states to consider what practical steps could be taken if the sanctions are imposed,” she said.

“We have not set a specific date or time for activation, nor have we decided whether the statute will be activated. Naturally, we still hope to find a better outcome so that the court can continue carrying out its important work,” the spokesperson said.

On 9 October, the US announced sanctions against the ICC aimed at crippling its operations. The announcement came only hours after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navi Pillay, a prominent South African jurist and one of the ICC’s founding judges.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would ban transactions with parties it described as a “rogue court”.

The move escalated President Donald Trump’s administration’s campaign against the judicial institution based in The Hague.

“Either the ICC will stop its threats, or we will put an end to the ICC,” Rubio said in a statement.