CPI, EU urges US to withdraw sanctions. Pillay: "Unacceptable"

The postponement of the measures, underlines Brussels, "creates a space for diplomacy, with the aim of obtaining a rapid lifting of the sanctions and preventing further measures aimed at compromising the independence and integrity of the Court". “Attacks or threats against the Court, its elected representatives, staff and those who collaborate with it, including representatives of civil society and service providers, are unacceptable,” the EU says. Brussels reiterates that the ICC "must be able to operate independently, free from external pressure or interference". The European Union will continue to provide "full support" and contribute to the protection of the Court, its staff and those who collaborate with it.

South African judge Navi Pillay, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, also called the sanctions recently announced by the United States against the International Criminal Court (ICC) "unprecedented and unacceptable". There is great tension and concern regarding the survival of international tribunals, in particular the International Criminal Court in The Hague (...). Sanctions have been announced by a country against judges, due to the decisions they issued. This is unprecedented and unacceptable,” said Ms Pillay, speaking via video conference from Nuremberg (Germany) at an event organized at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo.

After the announcement of the sanctions with which the United States intends to inhibit the work of the International Criminal Court, calls have come for the European Union to use the so-called blocking statute. This is an EU regulation that allows you to protect European people and businesses from the extraterritorial effects of the laws of third countries. Its activation is the responsibility of the European Commission.

In practice, the activation of the statute means that EU operators do not have to comply with the foreign rules listed in the annex of the regulation. Not even the decisions, sentences and arbitral awards based on those rules produce effects in the Union. Anyone who suffers economic or financial consequences from the provisions listed must inform the Commission within 30 days and can also ask for compensation for damages in court. The application of the provisions and sanctions for violations are the responsibility of the Member States. The Commission may also authorize derogations in specific and justified cases.