EU awards Sakharov Prize to ICC amid US sanctions threat
The European Union has awarded its top human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize, to the International Criminal Court. The announcement came Thursday, just two weeks after US President Donald Trump vowed to dismantle the court through new sanctions. It’s the second international recognition for the ICC this month, following the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to former ICC Judge Navi Pillay for her work promoting peace and international law.
European support for the court
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the EU is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognizes the court’s important work in upholding international law and justice. The ICC thanked the European Parliament for the honor “at a time when the Court and its officials face unprecedented challenges.” ICC President Tomoko Akane said the prize “carries particular significance, reaffirming the importance of independent judicial institutions and of those who work to uphold international law.”
The ICC, based in The Hague, has long been a target of Trump. His campaign escalated after the court announced 2024 arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The Trump administration promised to dismantle the court “brick by brick” and recently announced sanctions aimed at crippling its day-to-day operations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a video that Washington will ban transactions with this “rogue court,” cutting off resources and crippling its ability to operate against the US.
Washington has sanctioned ICC judges, prosecutors, a UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territories, and Palestinian rights groups providing evidence to the court. The sanctions are due to come into force in six months. The EU said it’s “ready to take any necessary measures” to ensure the court can continue functioning. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the ICC “must be free to pursue its mission, independently, and without pressure or intimidation.” Brussels hopes to use the delay before sanctions are applied to talk the US down, and EU officials are eyeing a “blocking statute” to shield the ICC from Washington.
