Newsroom

Today, February 22nd, in the context of the Belgian Presidency of the Benelux, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès invited the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ms. Fatou Bensouda, and her fellow EU Foreign Ministers for an informal meeting with the 27 EU Ministers ahead of the monthly Foreign Affairs Council. Ms. Bensouda started her mandate as Prosecutor in 2012 and will finish it in June this year.

On Monday 14 December, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès spoke at the 19th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the founding text of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Due to the health situation, Minister Wilmès participated in this meeting, held in The Hague, virtually.

Foreign Minister Philippe Goffin expresses his deep concern about the sanctions announced by the U.S. authorities against staff members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), including the Prosecutor. Belgium condemns these unacceptable and unprecedented measures, which hinder the work and the proper functioning of the Court. It calls on the United States to reconsider these measures.

The world of multilateral diplomacy and international justice - of which the International Criminal Court is part - is going through a deep crisis and has to face threats and hostile action. The relevance of multilateral institutions is being questioned and countries are increasingly withdrawing into themselves. On International Justice Day, Foreign Minister Philippe Goffin emphasizes that Belgium will continue its efforts to strengthen the rule of law and the unique and essential role of the International Criminal Court. This permanent and universal Court is complementary to the national criminal jurisdictions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Philippe Goffin is deeply concerned by the repeated threats and new American measures against the International Criminal Court.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence Didier Reynders is deeply concerned about the announcement made by the United States regarding unprecedented measures against the International Criminal Court.

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Rome Statute, the founding text of the International Criminal Court, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders reiterates his support to this judicial institution which plays an essential role in the fight against impunity. Faced with the trends of withdrawal into oneself and unilateralism, a permanent international criminal jurisdiction with a universal vocation, complementary to national criminal jurisdictions, is more necessary than ever.