“EU member states are obliged to comply with an arrest warrant of the ICC”

Mounir Satouri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, said in a statement that the International Criminal Court decisions are binding on all EU member states.

On 21 November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.

The Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), Mounir Satouri (The Greens/EFA; FR), said this decision by the ICC is binding on all EU member states by virtue of the Rome Statute to which they are party and that is part of the EU acquis.

“The principles of international law and international humanitarian law apply to all of us and protect us all. EU member states are obliged to comply with any arrest warrant of the Court, as well as all states who are party to the Rome statute.

“There can be no cherry-picking in supporting the Court’s decisions. This is a judicial decision, handed down by an international court whose legitimacy, independence, impartiality and competence we have all recognised. An incomplete application of ICC decisions would seriously damage the international legal system and its credibility, as well as the values on which our European Union is founded.

“As we highlighted during the DROI subcommittee's recent mission to The Hague, we are very concerned about the unacceptable political threats aimed at the ICC. We call on all EU institutions and EU member states to take the necessary measures to ensure the protection of the Court and its integrity.”

A delegation of MEPs of the Subcommittee on Human rights travelled to The Hague on 29-30 October to meet with members of the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, EUROJUST; as well as with ambassadors of key partner countries and civil society and media representatives.