By BRUSSELS. Dec 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Council of the European Union has adopted a decision aimed at combating impunity for crimes committed in connection with Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.
The press service of the European Council said on Friday that, in its conclusions, the Council calls on member states to adopt measures “to fully implement the definition of core international crimes and modes of liability enshrined in the Rome Statute.” “It also asks member states to allow the exercise of universal jurisdiction or other forms of domestic jurisdiction over core international crimes, and to enable close judicial cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC),” the press release says.
In addition, in the conclusions there is a call on member states “to provide adequate support for the creation and functioning of specialised units dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of core international crimes at national level.” “Member states should also raise awareness among the Ukrainian refugee community of the possibility of giving testimony in member states, and should strengthen the support and protection of victims of core international crimes in criminal proceedings,” the EU Council said.
The Council also calls on Member States to support the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine and consider participating in the rotation model coordinated by the ICC. He also asks them to strengthen cooperation with EU stakeholders, such as Eurojust, Europol or TEAM Ukraine, to improve the effectiveness of investigations and prosecutions.
At the same time, the Council invites the European Commission to strengthen financial, logistical, technical and substantive support to Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices, knowledge and experience. “The Commission should also continue supporting national and international investigative and evidence-gathering mechanisms, specifically with respect to battlefield evidence. It also asks them to strengthen cooperation with EU stakeholders such as Eurojust, Europol or EUAM Ukraine to enhance successful investigation and prosecution,” the press release notes.
