EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Borrell Calls for Support to the ICC
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, sharply criticised the countries that do not support the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Borrell emphasised that this court decision is a requirement of international law and stated that EU member states should respect this decision.
Speaking at a conference held in the Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus, Borrell stated that the decision of the ICC was extremely important and said: “This is a court decision, not a political decision. An international court was established with the strong support of EU member states and this decision was taken within this framework.” “As Vice-President of the EU Commission and High Representative, I urge all member states to support the ICC’s judgement,” Borrell said, recalling the obligation of EU member states to support the court’s decisions.
Borrell also said that EU candidate countries are also expected to comply with the court’s judgements and added : “It is therefore essential that existing members fulfil the same responsibility.”
Reaction to US Senator
Borrell also criticised a US senator’s statement that sanctions would be imposed on countries cooperating with the ICC. Borrell said he was “appalled” to hear such a statement, describing the idea of sanctions against countries co-operating with an international tribunal as “unbelievable” and stating that this would be a violation of international law.
The ICC announced on 21 November that it had issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ‘for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza’. While this decision had a great repercussion around the world, some countries such as Hungary, Austria, Czechia and Germany expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision and made statements that they might not comply with this decision.
