The European Union welcomes the surrender of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo by the authorities
of the Democratic Republic of Congo and his transfer by France to the International
Criminal Court on 17 March 2006. Mr. Lubanga is alleged to have committed war crimes,
namely enlisting and conscripting children as child soldiers and using them to actively
participate in hostilities. He is the first suspect to have been arrested and transferred to the
International Criminal Court in order to stand trial in The Hague.

This arrest constitutes an important achievement in the fight against impunity in the Great
Lakes region, with a view to enhancing long-term stability in the region. Furthermore, this
arrest is evidence of the international community’s commitment and support to the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and its citizens in their efforts towards peace and
reconciliation. In this regard the EU welcomes the fact that the Democratic Republic of the
Congo is preparing for its first democratic election in forty years.

The arrest and transfer of Mr. Lubanga proves that the International Criminal Court is fully
operational. The EU is confident that the International Criminal Court will function as a
deterrent and means of conflict resolution with the support of the international community.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia*
and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and
Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and
Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the
European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align
themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the
Stabilisation and Association Process.

Ref: 7847/06 (Presse 92)