The International Criminal Court and its staff have won the Sakharov Prize, the European Union's top human rights honor, according to AP and France 24.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the award Thursday in Strasbourg, France, AP reported. It was met with a standing ovation, AP said.

"The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognizes the important work of the court in upholding international law and justice," Metsola said, according to AP.

The award came just days after the Trump administration announced sweeping new sanctions on the court, AP reported. France 24 said the prize risks upsetting President Donald Trump.

AP said the sanctions are part of a campaign to dismantle the court over its investigations into the country and its allies, including Israel. The sanctions cut the court off from banks, tech firms and even the dollar, AP reported. Companies and people doing business with the court have six months to wind it down, AP said.

ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan welcomed the prize, AP reported. She said it "comes at a time when the court and its officials face unprecedented challenges," according to AP.

The prize is named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, AP reported. It was created in 1988 to honor people or groups who defend human rights, AP said.

The court is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and opened in 2002, AP reported. It handles war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression, AP said.

EU leaders said last week that the bloc "deeply regrets" the sanctions and urged that they be reversed, AP reported. The leaders asked the European Commission to help protect the court, AP said. One option is an EU rule that could shield European firms from the sanctions, AP reported.

What we know: The court won the EU's top human rights award days after new sanctions.
What we don't: Whether the EU will act to block the sanctions if talks fail.