During the ‘Justice’ Council held in Brussels on Friday, 13 December, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union presented a progress report on the actions taken to ensure accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine.
Initiatives by the EU and its partners include sending forensic experts on the ground, creating a joint investigation team, and establishing the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression within Eurojust. In addition, Ukraine ratified the Rome Statute on 25 October. This will come into force in the country on 1 January 2025.
During the press conference, European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment: “Those crimes are heinous, and I want to make it very clear, again, that there will be no impunity for them.” He also welcomed the progress made in discussions on creating a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine; the next technical meeting on this matter is scheduled to take place in Brussels in February.
Moreover, Mr McGrath mentioned the Register of Damage for Ukraine (see EUROPE 13458/5), which has already received more than 10,000 claims, and announced that the initial work to set up a claims commission had been started. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)