ICC wins top EU rights prize, despite Trump's sanctions
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- EP President Roberta Metsola awarded the Sacharov Prize to the ICC, stating the EU is built on respecting international institutions.
- ICC President Tomoko Akane accepted the award amid "unprecedented challenges" from US attempts to pressure and dismantle the tribunal.
- European lawmakers urged the European Commission to activate the EU Blocking Statute to shield ICC officials from American sanctions.
The European Union has awarded its top human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials, delivering a resolute endorsement of international law directly against a campaign of punitive sanctions from US President Donald Trump.
Announcing the decision to lawmakers in Strasbourg on Thursday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasized Europe's unwavering commitment to the tribunal despite mounting pressure from Washington.
"The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognises the important work of the court in upholding international law and justice," Metsola stated, reaffirming that judicial independence remains paramount.
The decision to honor the ICC comes just days after President Trump imposed sweeping sanctions on the tribunal and its personnel, part of an aggressive push aimed at neutralizing the court's jurisdiction over American citizens and allies.
Trump administration officials had previously threatened to tear the court down "brick by brick," denouncing its mandates as unacceptable overreach.
The tribunal welcomed the Sakharov Prize, calling it a crucial lifeline amid unprecedented external hostility.
ICC President Tomoko Akane highlighted the grave pressure the court is navigating, remarking that "in a world marked by rising conflicts, there is no peace without justice and no security without law".
European lawmakers who pushed for the court's nomination framed the €50,000 award as a direct stand against political coercion.
Iratxe García Pérez, leader of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, characterized the recognition as "a victory for international justice, a defeat for autocrats, and a powerful reminder that accountability matters".
Following the announcement, European lawmakers renewed calls on the European Commission to enact the EU's Blocking Statute, a mechanism designed to protect European entities and institutions from the extraterritorial enforcement of foreign sanctions.
The official award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Strasbourg in December.
