Several nongovernmental groups said Friday that the European Union (EU) should defend the International Criminal Court (ICC) from attacks against its mandate in an effort to protect the international legal order.

In a joint statement, 58 organizations stated that the EU must uphold international law and prevent attacks that could undermine justice for “victims of serious international crimes around the world”. The groups said that EU leadership should urge member states to adhere to the EU’s stance on ICC, emphasize cooperation and the universality of the Rome Statute, and condemn US sanctions against the Court.

The groups called for the utilization of the EU Block Statute to counteract sanctions, particularly from the US. The Blocking Statute is an important EU legislation that protects EU operators from extra-territorial enforcement of third country laws. Particularly, the statute allows the EU to nullify rulings or laws based on foreign entities within its territory, considering them to be contrary to international law. In the European Parliament resolution of March 15, 2025, parliamentarians urged the European Commission to activate this Blocking Statute.

The statement evidences several attacks against the ICC. In February of 2025, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order that authorized the freezing of assets and entry bans for ICC officials and people supporting its work. According to the groups, such sanctions could have detrimental effects on the court’s access to essential “services necessary to carry out its mandate”.

On April 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Hungary, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stating that his country will withdraw from the ICC. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity, condemned by the US and Israeli officials.

Article 86 of the Rome Statute obligates countries to cooperate fully with the court in “its investigations and prosecution of rimes within its jurisdiction”, whereas Article 89 states that when the ICC issues an arrest warrant and requests the surrender of a suspect, states parties are obligated to arrest and surrender the person if they are found on their territory. Failure to uphold these obligations limits the capability of the ICC to function and promote justice.