In Strasbourg, a large majority of Members of the European Parliament voted for a resolution calling for the establishment of a special tribunal. This court should focus on prosecuting the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
According to the Parliament, not only executors but also political and military leaders must be held accountable. The resolution explicitly points to senior officials involved in decision-making related to the war.
The resolution also condemns the ongoing attacks on civilian targets. These include residential areas, energy supplies, and other infrastructure. Such attacks are considered serious violations of international law.
Promotion
Compensation
In addition to criminal prosecution, Europe also wants to focus on compensation. Therefore, the Parliament supports the creation of an international arbitration commission where victims can file claims.
This arbitration commission should help citizens and organizations obtain compensation for damages they have suffered due to the war. This includes destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure, and other losses.
The European Union is working with international partners to further develop these plans. European countries are called upon to join the initiatives and actively contribute to their implementation. The commission is provisionally located in The Hague.
Tribunal
Important decisions are expected in the coming weeks. EU countries are considering participation in the new structures and further legal steps toward Russia.
With these measures, Europe wants to make it clear that the war will not go without consequences for Russia. Both legally and financially, efforts are underway to establish accountability and provide support to victims.
This does not yet mean that a European court has been established to prosecute Putin and Kremlin leaders, but it is first awaited whether an international (UN) court will be formed. If that does not happen, it could still become an EU matter.