On Monday 16 July at the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998, the General Affairs Council adopted the conclusions calling on the signatory parties to the Rome Statute at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to strengthen their commitment to this body.
Ministers highlight the crucial role played by the ICC, “At a time when the rules-based international order is facing increased pressure”.
In this regard, the Council expressed its regret at Burundi withdrawing from the ICC and the announcement by the Philippines that it was doing so too and called on these two countries to reconsider their decisions.
The Council is also requesting that signatory countries that have still not ratified the Rome Statute “to urgently ratify” the latter. 31 countries have signed the document without ratifying it, which exempts them from their obligations at the ICC. These countries include Russia and the US, which have already announced to the Secretary General of the United Nations that they will no longer take part in the ICC.
The General Affairs Council also highlighted the importance that the State signatures to the ICC cooperate in the follow-up to the arrest warrants submitted and that financial is provided in addition to psychological and material support to victims.
In another press release, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, reaffirms the political and financial compromise made by the Union with regard to the ICC through the funding of “outreach activities, global civil society campaigns, projects to promote the ratification of the Rome Statute, as well as through programmes aimed at improving national justice systems”.
Ministers welcomed the fact that crimes of aggression had been included in the international Criminal Court's competencies. They also reaffirmed the European Union's support for promoting “universality and preserve the integrity of the Rome Statute”. (Original version in French by Carmen García, trainee)