EU leaders back ICC after U.S. sanctions court officials

European Union leaders have reaffirmed their support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the imposition of sanctions by the United States on two senior court officials. EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, stated that the ICC is essential for delivering justice to victims of horrific crimes and emphasized that its officials must be able to perform their duties independently without external pressure.

The U.S. administration sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. According to the U.S. Secretary of State, the designations were made because the officials “directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.”

The sanctions, established under Executive Order 14203, prohibit U.S. nationals from conducting transactions with Akane and Seye and restrict their access to the U.S. financial system. This move is part of a broader U.S. policy aimed at dismantling the ICC, which has seen an increase in sanctions against court officials, academics, and NGOs since July 2026.