Oct. 28, 1996

Statement by the Representative of Ireland Ambassador F.M. Hayes on behalf of the European Union

Mr. Chairman,

[...] The European Union accordingly reiterates the following summary of its views:

- A permanent criminal court should be established.

- The Court should be complementary to national systems of justice, and this principle of complementarity should be duly reflected in the Statute.

- The jurisdiction of the Court should be limited to the most serious offences of concern to the international community and there should be certainty as to the crimes which fall within its jurisdiction.

- the Court should have proper standards of due process to protect the rights of the accused.

- The Statute of the Court should provide for the protection of witnesses and victims.

- The Court will have an important role in deterring serious crimes of concern to the international community, including serious violations of international humanitarian law, and in ensuring that those responsible for such crimes are brought to justice.

The European Union appreciates the work done in the Preparatory Committee under the excellent guidance of Mr. Adriaan Bos, and welcomes its report. It is pleased at the progress made in the elaboration of the text of a statute for an international criminal court and the recommendation to the General Assembly to allow, before April 1998, to the Preparatory Committee a limited number of weeks to finalize its work. It will continue to take an active part in the continuing work.

The European Union Looks forward to a constructive outcome o discussions on this subject at this 51st General Assembly, in particular as regards a decision, to be taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 50/46 and the conclusions of the Preparatory Committee, on the future work of the adoption of a convention establishing an international criminal court after the Preparatory Committee has finalized its work.