The International Criminal Court (ICC) must be able to fight impunity without any obstacles, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, quoted by Reuters, BTA reports.
"The ICC ensures accountability for crimes against international law and provides a platform for victims from all over the world. It must be able to act freely in the fight against impunity. Europe will always fight for justice and respect for international law," she wrote on social networks.
Her statement comes after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order last night imposing sanctions on the ICC. The document states that the Court has taken "illegal and unjustified actions" against the US and its ally Israel, referring to investigations into alleged war crimes committed by US soldiers in Afghanistan and Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
Israel welcomed Trump's decision, while EU member Hungary described the US position as "completely understandable" and announced that it would reconsider its attitude towards the Court.
Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa called Trump's decree "a threat" to the independence of the ICC.