A. Poland
B. Hungary
C. Slovakia
D. Serbia
In June 2025, Hungary formally informed the United Nations of its decision to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European nation to do so. Opposition to ICC arrest warrants for alleged war crimes in Gaza against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials was the driving force behind the withdrawal.
In accordance with Article 127 of the Rome Statute, the withdrawal will become effective on June 2, 2026, one year after notification. Hungary will be at odds with EU treaty duties supporting international law once it goes into effect because it will be the sole EU member state outside the ICC. Hungary is nevertheless required by law to assist the Court until the withdrawal takes place.
Key Points About Hungary’s ICC Withdrawal:
- Hungary is the first EU member state to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), joining only Burundi and the Philippines. This is a historic first.
- Triggering Event: Prime Minister Viktor Orban pledged not to carry out the ICC warrant when Netanyahu visited Budapest in April 2025, announcing the withdrawal.
- Limited Precedent: Hungary’s decision is extremely unusual for a European country, as only two other nations—Burundi and the Philippines—have ever withdrawn from the ICC.