Slovenia calls on the EU to protect international courts
Luxembourg – The EU is determined to protect the International Criminal Court (ICC) from political pressures and sanctions, emphasized Justice Minister Andreja Katič at the EU Justice Ministers’ meeting on Monday. Slovenia calls on the EU to act united and principled in defense of independent international justice, the Ministry of Justice stated.
As Katič highlighted at the meeting in Luxembourg, the rule of law must not become a bargaining chip for strategic interests or economic benefits. “If we are serious about defending democracy, then the rule of law must remain our constitutional anchor – the foundation that also determines our strategic and economic orientation, not something to which these interests are subordinated,” she emphasized.
After the U.S. imposed sanctions in early June against four ICC judges, including Slovenian Beti Hohler, Slovenia, together with Belgium, warned that sanctioning international judges and prosecutors, as well as independent reporters, undermines fundamental European values – the rule of law, the separation of powers, and respect for human rights, the ministry stated.
The justice ministers also discussed the fight against impunity for crimes in Ukraine, the future of the Eurojust agency, access to data in criminal investigations, and the protection of the democratic space in times of rising hate speech and political violence.
They also adopted a decision to sign the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. Slovenia, which has been very active in negotiating the text of the convention, welcomes the decision and will also sign the convention at the end of the month in Hanoi, the ministry added. (October 13)
