The European Parliament has decided to award this Thursday the Sakharov Prize 2026 for Freedom of Thought to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its workers, at a particularly delicate moment for the organization, subjected to sanctions from the Donald Trump Administration for its investigations into the situation in Gaza.
The decision, reported by EFE and Europa Press citing parliamentary sources, has been adopted by the Conference of Presidents of the Eurochamber, the body that brings together the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the leaders of the various political groups.
The candidacy of the court had been promoted by the group of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), in a context of increasing U.S. pressure against international justice. Washington has imposed sanctions against judges and prosecutors of the ICC, an offensive that has placed the independence of the organization at the center of the European political debate.
A recognition amid tension with Washington
The selection of the court represents an institutional gesture of support from the Eurochamber against the measures adopted by the White House. The recognition comes, moreover, just two weeks after South African judge Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay, who served as a judge of the organization, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2026.
The official ceremony for the delivery of the Sakharov Prize is scheduled for December 16 in Strasbourg, coinciding with the last plenary session of the year of the European Parliament. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the main recognition awarded annually by the community institution to individuals and organizations distinguished for their defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In its 2025 edition, the award went to the Belarusian journalist and activist of Polish origin Andrzej Poczobut and to the Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli.