#EU official condemns Trump’s sanctions against International Criminal Court

A top European Union official condemned President Trump’s decision to authorize sanctions against the International Criminal Court employees, calling the policy a “matter of serious concern.”

Trump on Thursday signed an executive order authorizing harsh economic penalties on ICC workers or any person who helps with an investigation into the US or its allies, as the court currently probes whether American soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

Speaking at an online press conference after meeting with European foreign affairs ministers, Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, came out against the measure.

“[This] is a matter of serious concern, as you can understand, because we as the European Union are steadfast supporters of the International Criminal Court,” Borell said, according to a Politico report.

Borell said he learned of the “very bad news” as his meeting was coming to an end and said the Netherlands-based tribunal needed to be respected.

“I think that for sure I can reiterate our support to this institution,” he said.

“A key factor in bringing justice and peace, it must be respected and supported by all nations and we’ll analyze the decision in order to assess its full implications,” he added.

But Trump officials on Thursday said an ICC investigation into the actions of US troops in Afghanistan was being pushed by bad actors including Russia, which it accused of “manipulating” the court.

“The ICC investigation with respect to Afghanistan is being pushed forward by an organization of dubious integrity, and may be the target of corrupt, malign influence by Russia and others,” a senior US official said.

“Further, we have reason to believe there’s corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the ICC’s office of prosecutor, calling into question the integrity of this investigation into American personnel.”

The intergovernmental organization prosecutes individuals for international crimes such as genocide and war crimes and has more than 123 member states.