Three European Parliament members will travel to The Hague on 28 October to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to international justice, strengthen cooperation with legal institutions and support the International Criminal Court (ICC), recipient of the Parliament’s 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
The delegation will be led by Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew, Bulgaria), chair of Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), accompanied by Axel Voss (EPP, Germany) and Lara Wolters (S&D, the Netherlands). Their one-day mission will include meetings with representatives of the ICC and other international and national legal bodies.
A central focus of the visit will be the growing pressure on the international justice system and the challenges facing multilateral institutions. During discussions with ICC representatives, the MEPs are expected to address recent developments in international law and reaffirm European support for the Court’s mandate and independence.
The European Parliament has previously raised concerns about mounting threats against the ICC and sanctions imposed on the institution since 2025, particularly those introduced by the United States. Its 2025 annual reports on the EU’s common foreign and security policy and on human rights and democracy worldwide highlighted the need to protect international justice mechanisms.
The delegation will also meet officials from the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) to examine opportunities for closer international legal cooperation. Discussions will cover civil and commercial law, family matters, company law and intellectual property, with a focus on developing practical legal frameworks that facilitate cross-border cooperation within Europe and internationally.
Another meeting is planned with representatives of the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority. The discussions will examine the practical implementation of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive and the experience gained in safeguarding people who report wrongdoing.
Ahead of the mission, Kyuchyuk stressed that the visit would demonstrate Parliament’s support for the ICC’s mandate, the independence of its officials and the broader international justice system. He also emphasised the importance of cooperation with legal counterparts on cross-border civil, commercial and family law, alongside reviewing how EU whistleblower protection rules operate in practice.
The visit forms part of the Legal Affairs Committee’s broader work to strengthen international justice and improve the effectiveness of legal cooperation. The committee is responsible for a range of policy areas, including civil and commercial law, company and intellectual property law, procedural matters, and the interpretation and application of international law.
Its recent work has included preparing a parliamentary opinion on a strategy to reinforce the international justice system and its institutions. The committee has also negotiated EU legislation aimed at improving protection and support for vulnerable adults, drawing on frameworks developed through the Hague Conference.
Through the mission, the delegation aims to reinforce partnerships with international legal institutions and underline the importance of independent courts, effective legal cooperation and a rules-based international order at a time of increasing pressure on multilateral governance.
