The Hungarian parliament has voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European Union country to do so. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that the ICC had lost its impartiality and credibility, turning into a politicized institution.
The decision to withdraw coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest. Netanyahu, against whom the ICC has issued an arrest warrant on charges of war crimes in Gaza, thanked the Hungarian leadership for its “courageous and principled” decision.
According to the Rome Statute, withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after the official notification to the UN. Until then, Hungary is obliged to fulfill its obligations, including cooperation with the court.
States parties and non-parties to the ICC
As of April 2025, 125 states are parties to the Rome Statute, including all countries of the European Union, except for Hungary after its decision to withdraw. Among the participants are Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, and most countries in Latin America and Africa.
Some major powers are not members of the ICC.
The United States: signed the Rome Statute in 2000 but has not ratified it.
China: has neither signed nor ratified the Statute.
Russia: signed the Statute in 2000, but withdrew its signature in 2016.
India: has neither signed nor ratified the statute.
Israel: signed but did not ratify the charter and withdrew its signature in 2002.
Before Hungary, only two countries have officially withdrawn from the ICC.
Burundi: in 2017.
Philippines: in 2019.
Hungary’s decision may cause tensions with other EU countries that remain committed to the principles of international justice.
