Kallas: Protecting the International Criminal Court remains an EU priority

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has said in a post on social media that the bloc has instruments that will allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to continue its work, even though the United States has announced its intention to impose sanctions on the court. The issue matters because sanctions could affect the operation of one of the main international bodies prosecuting grave crimes.

Talks with the court's president

Kallas said she discussed the situation with ICC President Tomoko Akane. The conversation followed the US statement about its plans to introduce restrictive measures against the court.

Time for dialogue

The head of EU diplomacy pointed out that the six-month period before the restrictions come into force leaves room for dialogue. During that time, she suggested, it is still possible to seek a solution through discussion.

Kallas also underlined that the European Union consistently supports the International Criminal Court and regards protecting its work as one of its priorities.

What the court does

The ICC hears cases against individuals suspected of committing the most serious crimes defined by international law. The source does not specify which tools the EU might use or what exact restrictions the United States has planned, so those questions remain open for now.