Source: European Parliament
The EU has repeatedly condemned[1] the Houthi threats and attacks against commercial ships, as unacceptable violations of international law threatening maritime security, peace and stability in the region. The EU underlined that they must stop, notably through the High Representative/Vice-President’s declaration on behalf of the EU and its Member States of 12 January 2024[2], welcoming the 10 January 2024 United Nations Security Council resolution 2722[3] condemning the Houthi attacks.
The EU has taken good note of the latest United States (US) designations of Houthi individuals and entities and is currently analysing their potential impact. The EU implements the United Nations Yemen sanctions through its Council Decision 2014/932[4]. This includes the Houthis (Ansar Allah), 12 Houthi commanders and influential figures, as well as a targeted arms embargo. Moreover, in 2024, the EU designated individuals and entities for their support to the Houthis under its sanctions regime regarding Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region[5].
The EU is committed to continue its engagement in the Red Sea through its defensive maritime operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, ensuring the protection of maritime routes and international navigational rights. Operation ASPIDES mandate has been recently extended until 2026[6]. Operation ASPIDES also proceeds with some exchange of information with US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian and other maritime actors in the region, including Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA.
The EU also remains the key contributor to the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen, which aims to facilitate the unimpeded free-flow of commercial items.
- [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/ep-plenary-speech-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell-houthi-attacks-red-sea_en.
- [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/01/12/yemen-statement-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-welcoming-the-un-security-council-resolution-strongly-condemning-houthi-attacks-on-red-sea-shipping/ . See also the EU Spokesperson’s statements of 5 and 13 December 2023: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/yemen-statement-spokesperson-houthi-attacks-red-sea_en , https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/yemen-statement-spokesperson-houthi-attacks-ships-red-sea_en .
- [3] http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/doc/2722.
- [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014D0932 .
- [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02023D1532-20241118 .
- [6] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/02/14/red-sea-council-prolongs-the-mandate-of-operation-aspides/ .