EU urged to invoke blocking statute to counter Trump sanctions on ICC

Published Aug 21, 03:50 PM UTC

MEPs and several EU governments are pressing the European Commission to activate a 1996 blocking statute to prevent US sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials from taking effect within the EU. The Trump administration recently imposed asset freezes and financial sanctions on ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, escalating its campaign against the court. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the ICC a 'corrupt and fatally-politicised supranational court.' In response, EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas offered 'unwavering support' for the ICC, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa backed the court's independence. ICC President Akane had previously urged the EU to extend the blocking statute to cover the court, which would ban EU companies and banks from complying with the extraterritorial US sanctions.