Liberal Democrats support International Criminal Court

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Oct 2003

A Liberal Democrat amendment to the EU budget giving a further boost to the International Criminal Court is expected to gain the support of the European Parliament this week.

This amendment will maintain substantial EU financial support to the various international criminal tribunals (including on Rwanda, Sierra Leone and former Yugoslavia) at € 7 million in 2004, specifically to assist the International Criminal Court in collecting evidence.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, London's LibDem MEP and European Liberal Democrat Justice spokeswoman said:

"It is vitally important that the EU maintains its tradition of support for the international criminal tribunals and thus the defence of fundamental human rights and the affirmation of justice in the world. We have set a precedent for other countries to follow."

"We need to persist in seeking to convince the United States of the obvious - that international justice is part of an effective strategy for global security. But until US opposition to the ICC ceases, we must counter its attempts to undermine the court and measures like this strengthened funding will help."