EU expresses disapproval towards US imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, which encompasses Slovenian judges as well.
Slapin' Down the Transatlantic Tempers:
Slovenia__gave a firm slap to Brussels' face, after the US targeted Judge Beti Hohler, one of their nationals, as part of new sanctions against the ICC. Europe is miffed at America for sanctioning four ICC judges, including Slovenia's Hohler, escalating the rift between transatlantic allies.
The European Union has slammed the US for sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC) aggressors, including Judge Hohler from the EU bloc. This heated exchange of words was the response to the sanctions nonchalantly announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, blaming the court for "baseless and politicized" investigations over alleged war crimes by US forces in Afghanistan and Israel in Gaza.
Those sanctions, which also targeted individuals from Benin, Uganda, and Peru, jeopardize the judges' professional capacities and capacity to perform, as they now have restricted access to their US-based property and assets as well as being unable to make transactions with American entities.
Rubio rubbished all criticisms and elatedly declared, "We call on our allies to stand with us against this disgraceful attack." Yet, his call was decisively rejected.
European leaders, notably Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, and António Costa, president of the European Council, swiftly spoke out in support of the ICC and vehemently opposed the sanctions. Van der Leyen argued that the ICC "must be free to act without pressure" and that "we will always stand for global justice & the respect of international law."
Many major EU countries, such as the host country Netherlands, have joined these calls in support of the ICC. Slovenia expressed disapproval of the US sanctions and affirmed its unequivocal support for Judge Hohler's work.
It's not the first time the US has had rough patch with the ICC, and the arrest warrant against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Natayanhu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant brought about renewed hostilities. With Hungary openly defying the ICC by ignoring the warrant and inviting the Israeli PM to Budapest, Slovenia's push to activate the EU Blocking Statute indicates that international justice institutions may gain crucial support in the face of coercive measures[2][3][5].
Extra-territorial Tussles
As a countermeasure to the pressure on judicial institutions, Slovenia proposed integrating the EU Blocking Statute, an old rule aiming to protect EU individuals and companies from extraterritorial effects of foreign sanctions[4]. The legislation was introduced in the 90s due to US sanctions against Cuba, Iran, and Libya, which penetrated deep within European operations.
In light of the current situation, the activation of this statute could shield EU citizens from US sanctions, safeguarding both the individuals and international justice institutions. [2][3][5].
Sources:
[1] AFP News
[2] European Commission
[3] BBC News
[4] Slovenian Government
[5] Euronews
- As a response to the US sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, including Judge Hohler from the EU bloc, the European Union has initiated policy-and-legislation to protect its citizens and the ICC from extraterritorial effects of foreign sanctions, such as the activation of the EU Blocking Statute, which was introduced during the 90s due to US sanctions against Cuba, Iran, and Libya.
- In the realm of politics, this war-and-conflicts issue between the US and the ICC, along with General-news articles on the subject, highlights the ongoing crime-and-justice dilemma involving the US sanctions against the ICC judges and the international community's resistance to these measures, with significant discussion taking place within the European Union and EU countries regarding the ICC's role and the US's actions.
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