The European Union on Friday described US sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) as "deeply regrettable" and said it was "ready to take any necessary measures to enable the court to carry out its work", APA reports.
"The EU will work closely with the ICC to ensure it continues to operate effectively," the European Commission said, adding it hoped that the six-month delay before the sanctions applied meant "there is room for dialogue"
One possible EU response would be to activate a legal instrument known as the "blocking mechanism", which 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 described the mechanism as the "nuclear option", but said the Netherlands had nevertheless asked Brussels to prepare it.
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