Netherlands asks EU to prepare 'blocking statute' to protect ICC from further US sanctions

The Netherlands has asked the European Commission to prepare a "blocking statute" to protect the International Criminal Court (ICC) from possible further US sanctions, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

In an interview with Dutch daily De Volkskrant on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, Tom Berendsen expressed his concern over continued pressure on the ICC and court officials.

He said new sanctions are possible. "We are preparing for anything."

"Within the European Union, we stand strong together, but outside of it, there are individual countries that feel the US is increasing the pressure, and they cannot simply ignore that," said Berendsen.