On the eve of the International Criminal Justice Day held on 17 July, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, issued a statement reaffirming the European Union’s recognition of the importance of respecting and defending the international criminal justice system.
In a context marked by conflicts such as Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and the unrest in Sudan, Yemen and Syria, it is essential, according to Mr Borrell, to have a solid system for dealing with serious crimes. Josep Borrell also underlined the EU’s unwavering support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), highlighting its crucial role in the fight against impunity.
The High Representative of the Union also reiterated Europe’s commitment to respect the obligations of the Rome Statute, to defend the ICC against any attempt to discredit it or threaten it, and to strengthen cooperation between Member States to prevent and combat international crimes.
The EU will continue to call for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes “to be brought to justice and held to account”, concluded Josep Borrell, asserting that “impunity is not an option”. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)