Brussels, 10/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU deeply regrets the adoption of the so-called "Nethercutt amendment" by the US Senate on December 7 in the vote on the US Budget 2005. The amendment prohibits credits from the US Economic Support Fund being made available to countries which are party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and which have not entered into bilateral agreements with the US (committing themselves not to surrender American citizens suspected of crimes on which the Court passes judgement). The EU urges President Bush to make full use of the powers of waiver he has under the amendment. The Presidency recalls in its declaration that any bilateral non-surrender agreement concluded with the US in this context must preserve the integrity of the Rome Statute which created the International Criminal Court.