High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas, in a written answer on 27 July 2026, informed the European Parliament that Hungary has reversed its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) Rome Statute, effectively rendering the Commission's earlier analysis of the withdrawal's compatibility with EU law unnecessary. The answer, responding to a question from 16 MEPs led by Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), notes that the Hungarian government announced its intention to reverse the withdrawal, Parliament voted on 27 May 2026 on a bill to revoke it, and Hungary notified the UN Secretary-General on 29 May 2026. The withdrawal, originally announced on 3 April 2025, would have taken effect on 2 June 2026 under Article 127 of the Rome Statute.
The answer reiterates the EU's steadfast support for the ICC and calls on all states to fully cooperate with the Court, including executing outstanding arrest warrants. It references the EU-ICC cooperation agreement and the EU's commitment to promote the Rome Statute's principles. However, the answer does not address the MEPs' specific questions about whether the Commission's analysis was completed or published, nor does it comment on Hungary's earlier failure to comply with the ICC arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu during his April 2025 visit. The reversal means the legal question of withdrawal's compatibility with the EU acquis is no longer pressing, though the underlying issue of compliance with ICC warrants remains unresolved for future visits.
The reversal spares Hungary a potential legal confrontation with the EU over treaty obligations, but the lack of a public Commission assessment leaves ambiguity about the EU's stance on withdrawal's legality. The ICC benefits from Hungary remaining a state party, preserving its jurisdictional reach. EU institutions avoid a divisive legal battle, but the episode highlights ongoing tensions between some member states and the Court's authority. Human rights advocates may see the reversal as a positive step, but the absence of a clear EU condemnation of non-compliance with ICC warrants could be seen as a missed opportunity to strengthen international accountability.