Resolution on the General Affairs Council's position about the International Criminal Court

The European Parliament passed a resolution on the General Affairs council's position on the International Criminal Court (ICC). Parliament is firmly committed to preserving the full integrity of the Rome Statute and the early establishment as an effectively functioning body of the International Criminal Court. It commended the initial efforts of the Danish Presidency to preserve a united position of the EU Member States. It regretted, however, that the General Affairs Council, against the clear will of the European Parliament, has not adopted a common position in response to the US Administration's efforts to conclude bilateral agreements with individual Member States and by doing this to undermine the universality of the International Criminal Court. There are only vague indications contained in the Council's Decision on the ICC. No immunity agreement should ever create the possibility of impunity for any individual accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide. National Parliaments in the EU and in the applicant countries must scrutinise any activity their respective governments may undertake in relation to the Rome Statute of the ICC. Under the Rome Statute ICC State Parties must refrain from undermining the full effectiveness of the Court and jeopardising the Court's role as a complementary jurisdiction to State jurisdictions. Parliament urged the Council to make all efforts to start a frank dialogue with the US Government and Congress in order to stop the pressure and the threat of sanctions against the countries that have ratified the Rome Treaty. Parliament stated that it expects the governments and parliaments of the Member States to refrain from adopting any agreement which undermines the effective implementation of the Rome Statute. Ratifying such an agreement is incompatible with membership of the EU. It addressed the same request to the applicant countries, the countries associated with the EU in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, the Mercosur, Andean Pact and San JosÚ Process countries, the countries involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process and the ACP countries which are parties or signatories to the Statute.�