Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A statement issued by the European Union said that access to justice is a basic human right. And on July 17, we recognize the importance of supporting and defending the international criminal justice system as an essential tool for the international community to promote peace and security and protect the rights of victims. The statement, issued in Brussels by the office of the European Union's foreign policy coordinator, Josep Borrell, added, "With the raging war on the European continent with the unjustified and unjustified Russian military aggression against Ukraine, and in other regions of the world, including Sudan, Yemen and Syria, there is a resilient and strong regime." For international criminal justice it can tackle the gravest and most serious crimes are essential We must stand together firmly in our commitment to hold those who commit atrocities accountable for their actions.
This year we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This was a huge step forward in the global fight against impunity. The International Criminal Court is the first permanent criminal judicial institution of a global nature established to prosecute the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole. As reaffirmed by the Council's conclusions in June 2023, we reaffirm our unwavering support for the Court, as an independent and impartial judicial institution. We renew our commitment to our obligations under the Rome Statute and our determination to defend the International Criminal Court against any attempt to undermine its work and any threats against it and its staff.
The European Union is actively involved in supporting international criminal justice. Within Europe, the EU supports strengthening cooperation among EU member states to prevent and combat international crimes through Eurojust and the European Network for the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes.
The EU has been instrumental in supporting the work of the International Criminal Court, international criminal tribunals, ad hoc national tribunals, truth and reconciliation commissions, and redress mechanisms to protect victims' rights to justice and reparation, as well as UN accountability mechanisms.
The European Union will continue to call for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes to be brought to justice and held accountable. No one - no matter who they are or where they are - should be allowed to escape justice.