EU awards ICC Sakharov Prize weeks after Trump announces sanctions
The European Parliament honours the war crimes tribunal less than two weeks after Washington announced sanctions against it.
At a glance
- The EU awarded the International Criminal Court its Sakharov Prize, its top human rights award, on Thursday.
- The prize comes less than two weeks after US President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the court.
- Former ICC judge Navi Pillay was separately awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this month.
The European Union has awarded the International Criminal Court its top human rights prize, the Sakharov Prize, less than two weeks after US President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the tribunal.
The award was announced on Thursday by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who said the EU "is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions" and that the prize recognised the court's work in upholding international law and justice.
It is the second international honour for the Hague-based war crimes court this month. Former ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting peace and international law.
Court welcomes award amid 'unprecedented challenges'
The ICC thanked the European Parliament, saying the honour came "at a time when the Court and its officials face unprecedented challenges." ICC President Tomoko Akane said the prize "carries particular significance, reaffirming the importance of independent judicial institutions and of those who work to uphold international law."
The court has long been a target of Trump. His campaign against it escalated after the ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The Trump administration has said it will dismantle the court "brick by brick" and recently announced sanctions intended to cripple its day-to-day operations. Announcing the measures, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would ban transactions with what he called a "rogue court," adding that the United States and the American people were not subject to its jurisdiction.
Washington has also sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors, a UN special rapporteur focused on the occupied Palestinian territories, and Palestinian rights groups that provided evidence to the court. The ICC tries individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
EU support and what happens next
The EU has backed the ICC against the US sanctions, which are due to come into force in six months, and has said it is ready to take any necessary measures to keep the court functioning. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the court "must be free to pursue its mission, independently, and without pressure or intimidation."
Brussels hopes to use the delay before the sanctions are applied to try to talk Washington down, and according to EU officials is also considering a "blocking statute" to shield the court.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- Why did the ICC win the Sakharov Prize?
- The European Parliament said the prize recognises the court's work in upholding international law and justice. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the EU is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions.
- What sanctions has the US imposed on the ICC?
- The Trump administration announced sanctions aimed at crippling the court's day-to-day operations. Washington has also sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors, a UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories and Palestinian rights groups that gave evidence to the court.
- When do the US sanctions on the ICC take effect?
- The sanctions are due to come into force in six months. The EU hopes to use that delay to try to talk Washington down and is also considering a "blocking statute" to shield the court.
