MEPs and Members of Parliament from across the European Union, Norway and Ukraine, discussed "The role of the EU and its Member States in supporting global accountability mechanisms, including universal jurisdiction, international courts and special tribunals" during an Interparliamentary Committee meeting held on 6 May 2026 in the European Parliament.
Following this meeting, MEPs of the DROI Subcommittee and MPs from national parliaments signed a statement on Protecting the International Criminal Court and defending the rule of law, calling for the activation of the EU Blocking Statute.
Organised in cooperation with the Committees on Legal Affairs and Civil Liberties, the meeting gathered MEPs and national parliamentarians to address pressing challenges and coercive measure to the international justice architecture.
A key highlight was the participation of Nicolas Guillou, judge of the International Criminal Court as well as civil society and the EEAS. Discussions covered threats to the ICC, including sanctions targeting officials and NGOs, as well as potential EU responses such as the Blocking Statute.
Participants also exchanged views on the Special Tribunal for aggression against Ukraine and universal jurisdiction.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into military systems, including intelligence, surveillance, command and control, decision-support and targeting functions. These developments raise important questions about human oversight, accountability and the protection of fundamental rights, particularly where AI-enabled systems influence decisions with potentially significant human rights consequences.
The workshop presented the findings of a study commissioned by the DROI Subcommittee and discussed the challenges posed by AI-enabled military systems, including algorithmic opacity, automation bias and the allocation of responsibility across public authorities and private actors. It also explored possible policy options for the European Union and the role of the European Parliament in promoting meaningful human control, democratic oversight and respect for fundamental rights in this rapidly evolving field.