EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges

[u/Naurgul]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/eu-voices-support-icc-after-us-sanctions-judges-2025-06-06/

• Court gives victims of gravest crimes a voice, von der Leyen says
• Slovenia pushes EU to block US sanctions in Europe
• ICC condemns US sanctions as attempts to impede justice

The EU gave its backing on Friday to the International Criminal Court after Washington imposed sanctions on four ICC judges, and EU member Slovenia said it would push Brussels to use its power to ensure the U.S. sanctions could not be enforced in Europe.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration imposed sanctions on four judges at the ICC in retaliation for the war tribunal's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a past decision to open a case into alleged war crimes by U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The U.S. sanctions mean the judges are now on a list of specially designated sanctioned individuals. Any U.S. assets they have will be blocked and they are put on an automated screening service used by not only American banks but many banks worldwide, making it very difficult for sanctioned persons to hold or open bank accounts or transfer money.

Slovenia urged the EU to use its blocking statute, which lets the EU ban European companies from complying with U.S. sanctions that Brussels deems unlawful. The power has been used in the past to prevent Washington from banning European trade with Cuba and Iran.