The EU supports the reform of the International Criminal Court

(BRUSSELS2) A few days before the opening in Kampala of the first Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (31 May), the European Union must adopt, during the Council of Ministers on Tuesday 25 May (Competitiveness), conclusions that affirm its support "unshakeable" to the Court and its "desire to promote the universality of the Rome Statute and preserve its integrity. conclusions to affirm the importance it attaches to international jurisdiction".

It's a "important step forward" in the consolidation of the ICC, note the 27, as "as an effective instrument of the international community, making it possible to bring to justice those who bear criminal responsibility for acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national courts are unwilling or unable to pursue them. In addition, the Court provides the victims of these crimes with real hope that justice will be done, in particular by allowing them to participate in the proceedings, a right that has never before been granted in the history of international criminal justice.."

The Europeans also underline the importance of discussing at the conference issues that are of crucial importance to the Court, such as: universal adherence to the Rome Statute, increased cooperation, particularly with a view to improving its mechanisms, the complementarity between national jurisdictions and the Court, the essential link between peace and justice and the vital need to ensure that the Rome Statute system has repercussions for victims and in affected communities. They support "active"the efforts made to resolve the situation of the victims of the most serious crimes,"whose fate should always be the primary concern of actors in the field of international criminal justice".

(Nicolas Gros-Verherde)