BRUSSELS/ISTANBUL

The EU's spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Friday expressed the 27-member bloc's regret over a US executive order authorizing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

"The EU expresses its regret regarding the US executive order allowing sanctions to be imposed on the International Criminal Court," Anouar El Anouni said in a written statement to Anadolu.

Stressing the ICC's "key" role in promoting international criminal justice and the fight against impunity, El Anouni also expressed the EU's support for the ICC and the principles set out in the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty.

"The executive order could represent a serious challenge to the work of the ICC with the risks of affecting ongoing investigations and proceedings, including as regards Ukraine, impacting years of efforts to ensure accountability around the world," he stated.

The spokesman noted that the EU will monitor the reverberations of the executive order and consider possible further steps.

US President Trump's decision to sanction ICC

On Nov. 21, 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump signed a presidential decree imposing sanctions on the ICC for this decision.