On 17 July 2026, the European Union issued a statement on International Criminal Justice Day, reaffirming its unwavering support for the international criminal justice system, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), ad hoc international tribunals, and hybrid criminal judicial bodies. The statement, delivered by the High Representative on behalf of the EU, pays tribute to those working to uphold justice and accountability, and remembers victims of the world's gravest crimes.
The EU reiterates its firm commitment to the Rome Statute and calls on all states to ensure full cooperation with the ICC, which it describes as the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system. The statement emphasises that the independence, impartiality and effective functioning of the ICC must be preserved and protected, and that the Court must be able to carry out its mandate free from pressure, intimidation or interference. It stresses the importance of allowing the ICC to proceed with ongoing investigations and cases across the world.
The EU notes that violations of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, continue to cause immense suffering, and that accountability remains indispensable for justice, prevention of future atrocities, and sustainable peace. The statement places victims at the centre of justice, affirming their rights to truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence.
The European Union pledges continued political, diplomatic, financial and practical support for the ICC and the broader Rome Statute system, including by strengthening national justice systems in line with the principle of complementarity. The statement concludes that there can be no lasting peace without justice, and no justice without accountability and meaningful reparations for victims.
The statement was published by the Press & Information Section of the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan. No prior coverage of this annual statement exists in recent months.