EU chief backs ICC after US sanctions judges over Netanyahu warrant
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reiterated European backing for the International Criminal Court, after the US slapped sanctions on four judges it accuses of “illegitimate and baseless actions” against Washington and its allies, including Israel.
“The Commission fully supports the [ICC and] its officials. The ICC holds perpetrators of the world’s gravest crimes to account [and] gives victims a voice,” the European Commission chief posted on X.
“It must be free to act without pressure. We will always stand for global justice [and] the respect of international law.”
On Thursday, the Trump administration followed through on a threat to sanction officials associated with the court, issuing sanctions against four judges.
Two of the judges, Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia, were sanctioned for their role in the ICC issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November, according to the US State Department.
The Commission fully supports the @IntlCrimCourt & its officials.
The ICC holds perpetrators of the world’s gravest crimes to account & gives victims a voice.
It must be free to act without pressure.
We will always stand for global justice & the respect of international law.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 6, 2025
Costa hints EU could penalize Israel over Gaza offensive
https://www.politico.eu/article/antonio-costa-europe-council-gaza-palestine-israel-eeas-foreign/
A new EU review is likely to find Israel is falling short of its human rights obligations, one of the bloc’s leaders warned, as diplomats push for concrete action to be taken against the country.
“The situation in Gaza is of course completely unacceptable,” European Council President António Costa said in comments first reported by POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook. The EU’s diplomatic service, he added, is currently assessing whether Israel is meeting its obligations under international law.
“But watching your televisions and reading your newspapers, I think it’s not difficult to anticipate what is the conclusion that they obtain,” he added.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has been tasked with looking at the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel, which enshrines respect for human rights and democratic principles as “an essential element” underpinning cooperation between the two. A broad coalition of 17 EU member countries, led by the Netherlands, pushed for the review — which will be presented at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers on June 23.
Four diplomats, granted anonymity to speak frankly about the process, said pressure is growing on the European Commission to bring forward proposals that would see ties in areas like trade downgraded if Israel is found to be in breach of those provisions.
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While upending the Association Agreement would require the unanimous support of all 27 member countries and would come up against resistance from the likes of Hungary and the Czech Republic, officials are eyeing alternative moves that could scale back parts of the pact and would only need a qualified majority vote.
“We need to take decisions by a majority, by qualified majority, or by unity,” Costa said of the Council’s deliberations process. “We should wait for the assessment and then discuss what kind of decision we want to take and what kind of majority we need to take the decision.”
Sure wait 2.5 more weeks before discussing further, no rush...
