Overview
- Spain, which disclosed the push Wednesday, asked the European Commission to activate the EU Blocking Statute to neutralize U.S. sanctions in Europe.
- Madrid says the Commission should add the relevant U.S. executive orders to the statute’s annex so EU laws override those foreign measures inside the bloc.
- The U.S. has sanctioned eleven International Criminal Court judges and prosecutors since February 2025 and added UN expert Francesca Albanese in July 2025, with measures that freeze assets, cut off banking, and restrict travel.
- Spain is seeking backing from other member states and wants the issue on the European Council agenda for June 18–19, while the Commission has not announced a decision.
- Sánchez argues the sanctions set a worrying precedent that could hinder the independence of global justice bodies, and using the statute here would extend it beyond its usual commercial scope.