German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is visiting The Hague to meet Dutch counterpart Tom Berendsen and senior ICC officials to coordinate on the EU's next long-term budget, military cooperation and support for Ukraine. Germany and the Netherlands belong to a coalition opposing the European Commission's proposed €1.76 trillion budget for 2028–34, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for cuts of several hundred billion euros. Wadephul will also meet ICC President Tomoko Akane and deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan amid growing US pressure on the court, including sanctions and calls from President Trump for mass withdrawals.
Wadephul Travels To The Hague For ICC Meetings And EU Budget Coordination
FILE PHOTO - Johann Wadephul (r), German Foreign Minister, and Tom Berendsen, Dutch Foreign Minister, give a press conference after a joint meeting. (is associated with: «Germany's Wadephul goes to The Hague for ICC visit, EU budget strategy») Carsten Koall/dpa
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is travelling to The Hague on Monday for a series of high-level meetings, including talks with his Dutch counterpart Tom Berendsen and senior officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Agenda In The Hague
The ministers are expected to coordinate their positions on the European Union's next long-term budget, discuss deeper military cooperation and reaffirm support for Ukraine. Germany and the Netherlands are part of an EU coalition — together with Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Finland — that opposes the European Commission's proposed €1.76 trillion budget for 2028–34.
Budget Standoff
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged cuts of several hundred billion euros to the Commission's proposal. EU member states aim to agree on the 2028–34 multiannual financial framework by the end of the year, and talks between like-minded capitals will be key to shaping any compromise.
ICC Meetings And International Pressure
Wadephul also plans to meet ICC President Tomoko Akane and the court's deputy chief prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan. The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The visit comes amid intensifying pressure on the court from the United States: Washington has imposed sanctions on Akane, accusing her of involvement in actions against officials from states that do not accept ICC jurisdiction.
Context: Last week at the UN General Debate, US President Donald Trump urged countries to consider withdrawing from the ICC — a move that has further increased diplomatic focus on the court.
The meetings in The Hague will give Germany and its partners an opportunity to align positions both on the EU's budget negotiations and on how to engage with the ICC during a period of heightened international scrutiny.
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