EU weighs Blocking Statute to shield ICC from US sanctions
The European Commission says shielding court officials from Washington's measures remains an option, ten days after the US banned transactions with the court.
The European Commission said on Monday that the EU is considering activating its Blocking Statute to protect the International Criminal Court from US sanctions, WAFA reported, citing the Spanish daily Demócrata and Anadolu Agency.
Commission spokesperson Siobhan McGarry said preparatory work was under way and that the EU was in contact with member states, but that no decision had been taken on whether or when to use the tool, which is designed to neutralise third-country sanctions inside the EU.
“The blocking statute still remains on the table.”
Siobhan McGarry, European Commission spokesperson
The United States announced the sanctions on 9 October. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Hague-based tribunal a rogue court. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and last week a US federal judge temporarily blocked sanctions against two rights groups assisting its Israel investigation, Mondoweiss reported.
Reported from
- WAFA (English)19 Oct
- Mondoweiss20 Oct
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