Diplomatic tension is escalating in the heart of Europe. In a mobilization led by MEPs Aurore Lalucq and Dirk Gotink, various legislators urged the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to set a clear limit against the administration of Donald Trump.
The conflict sparked after the United States imposed sanctions on ICC judges — including citizens of France, Italy, and Slovenia — as retaliation for the arrest warrant issued against the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
For the legislators, this is not just a judicial problem, but a direct attack on European sovereignty. "It is an attack by a foreign power on an entity on EU territory", they denounced, underlining that the European financial system itself is being used to execute these sanctions.
| Actor / Country | Position / Action |
|---|---|
| United States | Threatens to "demolish" the ICC and applies financial sanctions. |
| MEPs (FR, IT, SI) | Demand the activation of the Blocking Statute against external sanctions. |
| European Commission | Urged to defend the autonomy and credibility of the EU. |
| ICC | Its operational and financial survival is at risk. |
As a defense measure, the parliamentarians propose activating the Blocking Statute. This legal tool would prevent European companies from complying with the sanctions imposed by Washington once the 180-day grace period has ended.
Although foreign ministers met in Luxembourg to seek "pragmatic" solutions, the MEPs believe that soft diplomacy is not enough. They warn that Europe's autonomy and the protection of its citizens against the pressure of foreign powers are at stake.
Source: IMAGO