EU condemns US sanctions on International Criminal Court, pledges support

• The European Union called the US sanctions on the International Criminal Court "deeply regrettable."
• The bloc said it is ready to take "any necessary measures" so the court can keep working.
• The European Commission said it will work closely with the court to help it operate effectively.
• The sanctions do not take effect for six months, which the commission said it hopes leaves "room for dialogue."

The European Union on Friday denounced American sanctions against the International Criminal Court as "deeply regrettable" and said it stood ready to take "any necessary measures" to allow the tribunal to keep doing its work.

In a statement, the European Commission said the bloc would work closely with the court to make sure it could continue to function effectively. The commission also noted that the sanctions would not take effect for six months, and said it hoped that interval left "room for dialogue" with Washington.

Read more: US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court: AFP