EU slams US sanctions on ICC, vows to help court keep working

The European Union on Friday called US sanctions on the International Criminal Court "deeply regrettable" and said it was "ready to take any necessary measures to enable the court to carry out its work".

"The EU will work closely with the ICC to ensure it continues to operate effectively," the European Commission said.

The commission said there was "a six-month delay before the measures are applicable," which it hoped would allow "room for dialogue".

One possible EU response would be to deploy a legal instrument known as the "blocking mechanism".

This prohibits European firms from obeying the US sanctions "actively or by deliberate omission", giving the European Union a potential means of cushioning some of the impact.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has said the EU blocking mechanism was seen as the "nuclear option", but that the Netherlands had nevertheless asked Brussels to prepare it.