European Parliament Awards Sakharov Prize to ICC Amid US Sanctions

The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The decision serves as a clear signal of opposition against US sanctions that threaten the judicial institution's vital global work.

Announcing the laureate in the hemicycle, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasized the European Union's foundation in multilateralism. "With the award of the Sakharov prize to the International Criminal Court and its officials, the European Parliament recognises the Court's important work in upholding international law and justice," Metsola declared.

The annual Sakharov Prize recognizes individuals and organizations that defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Previous laureates include South African leader Nelson Mandela and Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The political group leaders in Parliament selected the ICC over two other shortlisted candidates: Tanzanian lawyer Tundu Lissu and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi.

The US administration announced sanctions against the ICC on October 9 following the court's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its ongoing investigation into the conduct of US military forces in Afghanistan.

French Member of the European Parliament Chloé Ridel, who nominated the court, stated that the award acts as a direct challenge to the measures imposed by Washington. "This is a message of hope and resistance sent to Donald Trump. We will not abandon the rule of law and international justice. We will stand with the ICC for as long as it takes," Ridel said.

In response to the mounting pressure, European legislators have urged the European Commission to activate the EU's Blocking Statute to shield ICC officials from extraterritorial legal attacks and ensure the court operates with complete independence. While EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labeled the threat of sanctions as unacceptable, the bloc has yet to implement concrete countermeasures.

As all EU member states are parties to the Rome Statute, they are strictly obliged to enforce ICC decisions. European officials view the growing disregard for international jurisprudence as an existential threat to the rules-based global order. The official award ceremony is scheduled to take place in December during the plenary session in Strasbourg.