The adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 1998 marked one of the most significant moments in the history of international law. The Statute institutionalised a shift in international law from a decentralised collection of states to a community that shares the fundamental value of ending impunity for the most serious international crimes.
Today, the ICC is facing unprecedented challenges, both internally and externally. The US government, as a non-party to the Rome Statute, has claimed that it would dismantle the court 'brick by brick' in a statement which, rather paradoxically, has inflated perceptions of the threat posed by the ICC and international law. The political and financial bullying against the court and its top officials are part of much broader attacks against the infrastructure of international law and international institutions.
Now, the future of the ICC - and international law more broadly - is not necessarily in the hands of the US government but also in the hands of other states instead. In particular, the European Union (EU) and its member states, precisely because of the EU’s self-proclaimed identity as a supporter of the rule of law, must take proactive steps to protect the independence of the ICC - legally, financially, and technologically. Political intimidation delaying the progress towards accountability for international crimes should not be normalised.
As the US government has departed from its liberal narrative about international law and multilateral institutions, new coalitions are quickly emerging at various levels; about trade relations, defence procurement, security cooperation, or research and innovation partnerships. The attempts to dismantle cooperation, ironically, have created strong incentives to build blocks for multilateral cooperation elsewhere. In this shifting political landscape, the role of the EU is gaining significance in shaping the fate of international law and multilateral governance.
It is at this juncture that we are particularly delighted to welcome professor Nathalie Tocci for this year’s Annual T.M.C. Asser Lecture on 26 November 2026. The lecture will be an opportunity to reflect on the EU's stance on international law, including its past positions, and what the consequences are if Europe relinquishes the normative commitments that have long been at the core of its international role. We hope that you will join us at this important event, and the conversation it will inspire.
Apart from the Annual Lecture, the Asser Institute will continue its work in research, education, and valorisation activities. Several new research projects will start in the 2026-2027 academic year, as the managing director Kasper Vrolijk has shared on LinkedIn. Among them are two new NWO Veni projects, one led by researcher Jonathan Kwik on the legal boundaries of defending against military AI, and another led by Gabrielė Chlevickaitė on artificial intelligence and evidence gathering for international crimes.
We will also launch some exciting new training programmes. In collaboration with SEVEN, the University of Amsterdam's interdisciplinary climate institute, we have developed a short course on climate litigation and regulation. We will also offer a multidisciplinary course on hybrid threats, drawing on our expertise on technological changes in security contexts. Moreover, upcoming online courses include a training on the FIFA transfer system, which provides participants with the necessary knowledge and know-how to navigate the complex transfer system. These new courses come in addition to our successful long-running training programmes in the domains of counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, military AI, and international criminal law.
Last year, the Asser Institute celebrated its 60th anniversary. As the academic director of the Institute, I can certainly convey my respect to the colleagues and our stakeholders who have invested their energy in disseminating, from The Hague, the importance of international and European law.
Despite the deeply worrying state of international law, we are encouraged by the continued engagement of our stakeholders. Our events regularly fill up, and we receive an increasing number of requests to collaborate on research and educational projects.
At a time when the rule of law is under pressure nationally and internationally, this engagement sends a clear message: there is a strong demand for independent expertise, critical debate, and spaces for meaningful dialogue. It is precisely in this environment that the Asser Institute plays an important role.
As an institute based in The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice, the Asser Institute remains committed to strengthening our national and international collaboration and contributing to the development of international and European law. I am looking forward to meeting you at our events and initiatives in the coming months.
Machiko Kanetake
Academic director and chairperson of the executive board T.M.C. Asser Instituut