The European Union’s collaboration with Libya on migration policies has come under intense scrutiny following a legal filing at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Human rights lawyers Omer Shatz and Juan Branco submitted a 700-page dossier on Thursday, naming 122 European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as co-perpetrators in crimes against humanity involving migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. The filing accuses these leaders of policies that led to the interception, detention, torture, and death of tens of thousands of asylum seekers. The case builds on a 2019 ICC investigation into EU migration practices, which initially did not name specific individuals. The lawyers’ extensive six-year investigation included interviews with over 70 senior European officials and access to confidential documents. They argue that European leaders, alongside Libyan actors, are responsible for the deaths of 25,000 migrants and abuses against 150,000 survivors. The EU has defended its cooperation with Libya, emphasizing efforts to combat human trafficking and protect migrants. However, human rights groups and a recent U.N.-backed investigation have criticized the EU’s support for Libyan forces, citing their role in migrant abuses. The ICC filing marks a significant escalation in holding European leaders accountable for their migration policies.
Lawyers ask ICC to investigate 122 European officials for crimes against humanity in Mediterranean
