International Criminal Court: The need for the European Union to take more effective steps to prevent members from signing US impunity agreements

International Criminal Court: The need for the European Union to take more effective steps to prevent members from signing US impunity agreements

On 30 September 2002, the European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels, where they adopted their decision on requests by the United States for them to enter into impunity agreements not to surrender US nationals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, to the new International Criminal Court. Given the potential impact that the EU decision could have on states around the world which are under pressure to sign agreements, Amnesty International calls on the EU to revise its principles so that they are consistent with the Rome Statute and international law. It also renews its call for all governments not to enter into impunity agreements with the US.