The EU defies Trump and rewards the International Criminal Court

BrusselsThe European Union is challenging Donald Trump once again. 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 threats and sanctions from the US administration.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced the decision this Thursday, which was met with an ovation in the hemicycle. "The European Union is based on respect for multilateralism and international institutions," Metsola stated during the announcement, in which she recognized the Court's great work 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 accusation against Israel for crimes against humanity in Gaza, won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

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 figures such as the anti-apartheid leader in South Africa Nelson Mandela or the Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.

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

A message to Trump

The EU's decision sends a clear message to Donald Trump, who is immersed in an offensive to dismantle the Court, due to the decisions it has taken to investigate the genocide in Gaza. The White House argues that the arrest warrants it imposed against Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant demonstrate that the body is politicized and that it seeks to unfairly prosecute US citizens or allies such as Israel.

The latest repressive episode took place two weeks ago when the US administration imposed new sanctions on court workers, hours after 'Navi' Pillay was awarded. In addition to the veto on more than thirteen judges and prosecutors, the financial sanctions weighing against the court call its operational survival into question because they prevent it from accessing the financial system and its international suppliers.

The European Union has criticized 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 from complying with US sanctions.

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