site.btaCountries' Obligations under International Criminal Court Rome Statute "Still Stand a Year after Withdrawal"

Countries that have signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) must implement their obligations one year after possibly applying to withdraw from it, a European Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday responding to questions related to the expected visit to Hungary of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against whom the ICC issued an arrest warrant last year.

There is no registered official withdrawal application by Hungary at the moment, said the spokesperson. Such a document should be submitted to the UN Secretary General. According to him, it would be sad if any of the countries under the Rome Statute decides to leave.

The EU supports the ICC and the fight against impunity, and the spokesperson pointed out the European Council's call for implementation of the ICC's decisions, including arrest warrants.