In a brief debate added at the last minute to the plenary session agenda on Monday 15 January, several MEPs called on Europeans to take action to ensure security in the Red Sea and maintain stability in Yemen.
“The Houthis are terrorists who have taken up piracy. They are attacking international shipping where it is at its heaviest. A limited military response is essential, there is no doubt about it, it is essential to respond to the attacks on international trade”, explained Radan Kanev (EPP, Bulgarian).
Pedro Marques (S&D, Portuguese) urged Member States to take “appropriate measures”. In his view, what is needed is “an effective operation in the Red Sea, with an executive mandate to ensure security in the region”, and this must be done in cooperation with the countries in the region and international players.
Hannah Neumann (Greens/EFA, German) also called for a joint European response and to preserve the peace talks in Yemen, saying that the interests of the Yemeni people should be taken into account in the European response.
Several members of The Left group pointed out that the Houthis’ actions were a reaction to the situation in Gaza, with Mick Wallace (Irish) even describing them as a “humanitarian operation”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)