The Presidency of the European Union warmly welcomes today´s decision taken by the parliament of Japan to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Japan's ratification marks a further significant step forward in the international community's efforts to combat impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We hope that Japan's accession will encourage other countries in Asia to consider a representation at the Court.
The European Union has long supported Japan's ratification of the Rome Statute and is convinced that Japan will make a highly valuable contribution to the Court's work.
On this occasion the Presidency would like to reiterate the European Union´s commitment to the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute and calls upon states which have not yet done so to accede to the Rome Statute in due course.
