The new EU ambassador to Yemen, Gabriel Munuera Vinals, promised the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday 2 February, that the EU would not let Yemen down as the security and humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate.
The Yemeni conflict began seven years ago.
“We will continue to invest in Yemen”, he said. “We will continue to be very active on the political and humanitarian fronts and in development cooperation. All these elements are closely linked and inseparable”, he added, defending a global approach. The ambassador said that the EU will support the country politically, diplomatically and through financial cooperation, to seek a solution to the conflict and in support of the United Nations.
Munuera Vinals said the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, was preparing a framework for negotiations that would cover three pillars - economic, social and political - and hoped he would come to Brussels soon to discuss it. He said the EU was talking to all parties, including the Houthis, “because they are stakeholders in a political solution to the conflict”.
The ambassador also recalled that the EU had announced, in December 2021, €75 million to help the Yemeni population achieve resilient livelihoods, food security and adaptation to climate change. “The EU is trying to draw attention to the very serious economic situation in the country; we are trying to help with economic reform with the government”, he added.
Mr Munuera Vinals also warned that the humanitarian situation in the country was “still very serious and continues to worsen”. Moreover, international financial support is insufficient, he explained, noting that by 2021 only 58% of the needs had been covered. The EU is the main donor of humanitarian aid to the country.
The ambassador also said he was “very disappointed” by the end of the Group of Eminent Experts (GEE) on Yemen, adding that a new independent international mechanism should be established to monitor the human rights situation. Asked about the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organisation, Mr Munuera Vinals said he shared concerns about the impact such a designation could have on diplomatic efforts and humanitarian operations.
Similarly, when asked about the delivery of arms to the region, the Ambassador recalled that this was a unanimous decision of the Member States. While Yemen is covered by an EU embargo, some Member States continue to supply arms to coalition countries, which can then be used in the Yemeni conflict, despite Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)