The European Justice Ministers, meeting in Council on Friday 7 March, were invited to discuss the fight against impunity for war crimes committed in Ukraine.
In the wake of a Special European Council at which the Member States of the European Union demonstrated their determination to support Ukraine (see EUROPE 13594/2), this session provided an opportunity to discuss the initiatives of the EU and its partners, national authorities and international judicial bodies, including the International Criminal Court, in the legal fight against impunity.
According to a press release from the Council of the EU, the contribution of Member States to the work of the special tribunal being “set up under the auspices of the Council of Europe” (see EUROPE 13572/14) was one of the main topics discussed.
This judicial body would be responsible for judging crimes of aggression committed in Ukraine.
In addition, a report on cooperation for ministers. The aim was to take stock of transfers of evidence collected and stored in the database of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, Eurojust.
“We have done a great deal within the EU to collect and preserve evidence of the crimes committed by Russia. I am convinced that these efforts will be essential for the work of the special tribunal that will soon be created. Justice will be done and Russia will be held accountable for the war crimes it committed in Ukraine”, declared Poland’s Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, in a press release.
At the closing press conference of the day, the European Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath, gave assurances that the Commission would continue to support the investigations and actions carried out and coordinated by Eurojust, whose essential role he emphasised.
“Russia must be held responsible. Action should be taken in this area. We need to pull out all the stops to achieve this objective”, he insisted.
As a reminder, at their informal meeting in Warsaw under the Polish Presidency at the end of January (see EUROPE 13570/2), the Justice ministers had already devoted a working session to the European response to war crimes in Ukraine.
Discussions centred on the application of sanctions against Russia, the extension of the mandate of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the gathering of evidence. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)