The EU defies Trump and rewards the International Criminal Court

BrusselsThe European Union is once again challenging Donald Trump. The European Parliament has decided to award the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the International Criminal Court and its staff, who have been the target of attacks and sanctions by the US administration. The decision sends a clear message to the American president, who is engaged in an offensive to dismantle the Hague-based body due to the actions it has taken to investigate the genocide in Gaza.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced the decision this Thursday, which was received with an ovation in the hemicycle. “The European Union is based on respect for multilateralism and international institutions,” Metsola asserted during the announcement, in which she recognized the great work of the court in upholding international law and justice.

The award, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize in the EU, comes two weeks after South African judge Navanethem Navi Pillay, who served as a magistrate for the penal body and worked on the indictment against Israel for crimes against humanity in Gaza, won the Swedish Academy's award.

The prize, created in memory of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is endowed with 50,000 euros and recognizes the work of individuals, groups, and organizations that have contributed to the protection of freedom of thought. It has been received by personalities such as South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.

The candidacy of the International Criminal Court, promoted by the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament, ultimately received the support of the liberals, the greens, and the left. In contrast, Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who had been nominated by the group of the European People's Party and the ultraconservatives and was considered a favorite, has been left out of the race. According to parliamentary sources speaking to ARA, his candidacy did not receive the support of Patriots for Europe, of which Marine Le Pen is a member, due to disagreements with the European People's Party, which was left alone defending the Tanzanian leader, who faces the death penalty.

The ICC President, Tomoko Akane, has expressed her gratitude for the recognition, which she says comes at a time when the Court and its staff are facing "unprecedented challenges," among which are "sanctions aimed at hindering the court's judicial mandate." "There is no peace without justice and no security without law," the Hague-based organization warned in a statement.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also welcomed the decision, insisting that the body must be free to act independently and "without pressure or intimidation." "For the victims of the world's most serious crimes, justice means having a voice," she added.

A message to Trump

The court has long been in the crosshairs of the American president. The White House argues that the arrest warrants it imposed against Benjamin Netanyahu and the former Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, demonstrate that the body is politicized and seeks to unfairly prosecute American citizens or allies like Israel.

The latest repressive episode took place two weeks ago when the American administration imposed new sanctions on the court's staff, hours after Navi Pillay was honored. The US had already penalized 17 ICC judges and officials, but this measure sanctioned the institution itself, with an attempt to collapse its ability to operate. With the new sanctions, Washington prevents companies from providing goods or services to the court, for example banking or technological ones, with the goal of "cutting off its resources and paralyzing its ability to function," as stated in the Department of State's press release.

The European Union has lashed out at Washington on several occasions over the sanctions. However, until now, it has avoided using all the measures at its disposal to prevent their application. Several MEPs have urged the European Commission to impose a legislative shield known as a blocking statute, which would prevent EU companies and operators from having to comply with sanctions from third countries that violate international law.

Brussels has remained cautious, but has warned that it has “all options on the table.” “If we use the blocking statute, we have one chance and we should do it well. Therefore, we should be well prepared,” assured the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, last week, while asking companies not to comply with the US sanctions.

The leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament, Iratxe García, has also expressed herself along these lines, recalling that “the best way to continue supporting the court is to activate the blocking statute”.