The PES profoundly regrets the decision of U.S. President Trump to impose sanctions on members of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The idea of such a court was born by the war crimes in WWI and WWII, and the ICC itself was established with the signatures of more than 120 countries in Rome in 1998, prosecuting war criminals across the world and safeguarding the international rule of law. On Thursday, U.S. President Trump imposed financial sanctions on the ICC and issued travel bans on the court’s staff.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“The sanctions imposed by Donald Trump on the ICC threaten the international justice system and global rule of law. This latest act from the White House risks depriving victims of war crimes of justice.
The PES fully supports the position of the President of the European Council, António Costa and all high-level EU representatives, who stepped up to defend the ICC’s independence and impartiality and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the ICC and international law.
The United States is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Still, the leading democracy in the world should be expanding its cooperation with the ICC instead of obstructing its activities.”
The PES welcomes the position of the leaders of all 79 (and counting) countries worldwide, who supported the ICC and warned that U.S. sanctions are weakening international justice.
PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck added:
“We support the international efforts to defend the impartiality of the ICC. Regrettably, EU member states such Italy, Hungary, and Czechia didn’t sign the letter of support to ICC, signed by the international community”.
The ICC has 125 member states worldwide, including the EU member states, the UK, and many nations worldwide. The PES is convinced that strengthening the country’s cooperation with the ICC will help improve international justice and the rule of law.
