EU Parliament awards Sakharov Prize to ICC in rebuke of US sanctions

Prize signals European support for The Hague court weeks after Trump administration sanctions

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Updated22 October 2026

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Sources4 outlets

The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the International Criminal Court (ICC) the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, a show of support for the court weeks after the United States imposed sanctions on it.

The European Parliament has awarded the International Criminal Court (ICC) the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, signalling opposition to US sanctions threatening the court's work.

The annual prize recognises individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Past laureates include South African leader Nelson Mandela and Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

The Trump administration announced sanctions against the ICC on 9 October, following repeated criticism of its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its investigation into the conduct of US troops in Afghanistan.

"This is a message of hope and resistance sent to Donald Trump. We will not abandon the rule of law and international justice. We will stand with the ICC for as long as it takes," said French MEP Chloé Ridel, who nominated the court.

Parliament's political group leaders chose the ICC over two other shortlisted candidates: Tanzanian lawyer Tundu Lissu, who faces political persecution, and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, nominated on behalf of those persecuted by Iran's authorities.

The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group put forward the ICC and its officials, with other political groups eventually backing the nomination. The decision surprised some insiders, who had expected Lissu to win.

Last week, MEPs from across the political spectrum urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to protect the Netherlands-based court from US sanctions. They called for the use of "all instruments at our disposal", particularly the EU's Blocking Statute, which shields European companies and individuals from the effects of certain foreign sanctions.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the threat of sanctions against the ICC as "not acceptable" on 9 October, reaffirming the bloc's commitment to international law. The EU has yet to take concrete action.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The prize puts the EU visibly on the opposite side of Washington in a dispute over an international court that has issued an arrest warrant for a US ally's leader.
The sanctions could restrict the work of ICC officials and of European institutions that deal with the court, testing whether the EU's support translates into practical protection.
The gap between symbolic backing and concrete measures is now in focus, as the EU has not yet activated its Blocking Statute.

Background

The ICC, based in The Hague, is the world's standing permanent court for trying genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, established under the Rome Statute. Its supporters include the EU's member states, while the United States has long stayed outside the court's jurisdiction. The Sakharov Prize is the European Parliament's highest honour for human rights defenders, named after Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.

Key Perspectives

European Parliament and EU officials: The award is a defence of the rule of law and international justice. French MEP Chloé Ridel calls it a message of "hope and resistance" to President Trump, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described the sanctions threat as "not acceptable". The Trump administration: The sanctions, announced on 9 October, follow repeated US criticism of the ICC's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its investigation into the conduct of US troops in Afghanistan. Critics and insiders: Some in Parliament had expected Tanzanian lawyer Tundu Lissu to win, and the EU has yet to take concrete protective steps such as activating the Blocking Statute, leaving the prize largely symbolic for now.

What to Watch

Whether the European Commission invokes the Blocking Statute or other measures to shield the ICC from US sanctions.
How the court's investigations and its dealings with European governments and institutions are affected in practice.
Any further US action against the ICC or against European entities that cooperate with it.

Sources

EU Parliament awards Sakharov Prize to ICC in rebuke of US sanctions · Euronews
International Criminal Court wins EU's Sakharov human rights prize · France 24 Europe
EU's Sakharov Prize won by the International Criminal Court · DW English
Trump-sanctioned ICC wins EU Parliament’s human rights prize · Politico Europe

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.

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SupportedThe European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to the ICC in rebuke of US sanctions.Euronews: “EU Parliament awards Sakharov Prize to ICC in rebuke of US sanctions”
Partly supportedThe prize came weeks after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the ICC.France 24 Europe: “The prize is ‌the second international ⁠recognition for the war crimes tribunal this month, ‌and comes within two weeks after US ⁠President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the court.”
SupportedThe European Parliament awarded the ICC the prize on Thursday as a show of support after US sanctions.Euronews: “The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the International Criminal Court (ICC) the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, signalling opposition to US sanctions threatening the court’s work.”
SupportedThe Trump administration announced sanctions against the ICC on 9 October after repeated criticism of its Netanyahu arrest warrant and Afghanistan investigation.Euronews: “US President Donald Trump’s administration announced sanctions against the ICC on 9 October, following repeated criticism of its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its investigation into the conduct of US troops in Afghanistan.”
SupportedChloé Ridel said, “This is a message of hope and resistance sent to Donald Trump. We will not abandon the rule of law and international justice. We will stand with the ICC for as long as it takes.”Euronews: ““This is a message of hope and resistance sent to Donald Trump. We will not abandon the rule of law and international justice. We will stand with the ICC for as long as it takes,” said French MEP Chloé Ridel, who nominated the court.”
SupportedParliament’s political group leaders chose the ICC over shortlisted candidates Tundu Lissu and the Rahimi sisters.Euronews: “Parliament’s political group leaders chose the ICC over two other shortlisted candidates: Tanzanian lawyer Tundu Lissu, who faces political persecution, and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, nominated on behalf of those persecuted by Iran’s authorities.”
SupportedThe S&D group put forward the ICC and its officials, and other political groups later backed the nomination.Euronews: “The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group put forward the ICC and its officials, with other political groups eventually backing the nomination.”
SupportedSome insiders were surprised by the decision and had expected Lissu to win.Euronews: “The decision surprised some insiders, who had expected Lissu to win.”
SupportedLast week, MEPs from across the political spectrum urged Ursula von der Leyen to protect the court from US sanctions.Euronews: “Last week, MEPs from across the political spectrum urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to protect the Netherlands-based court from US sanctions.”
SupportedThe MEPs called for “all instruments at our disposal”, particularly the EU’s Blocking Statute.Euronews: “They called for the use of “all instruments at our disposal”, particularly the EU’s Blocking Statute”
SupportedKaja Kallas described the threat of sanctions against the ICC as “not acceptable” on 9 October.Euronews: “EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the threat of sanctions against the ICC as “not acceptable” on 9 October”
SupportedThe EU has yet to take concrete action.Euronews: “The EU has yet to take concrete action.”