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Madam President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament],  

We are now here to discuss the repeated and unacceptable Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which violate international law, threaten maritime security and peace in the region, and disrupt global trade. Until today, 28 attacks were carried out by the Houthis since mid-November. The Houthis are presenting their repeated attacks as a support to the Palestinian people, and they have launched some missiles toward Israel. The Houthis, together with Hezbollah and some Iraqi and Syrian militias, are aligned with Hamas. 

The EU has continuously condemned those acts and underlined that they must stop, notably through the EU Spokesperson’ Statements of 5 and 13 December and through our latest EU27 Statement of 12 January. The EU also called for the immediate release of the “Galaxy Leader” vessel and its 25-member crew, illegally seized on 19 November. 

EU services are also following closely the joint military response of the United Kingdom and the United States, members of the ‘Prosperity Guardian’ Operation, to repeated Houthi attacks against maritime vessels. The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out joint strikes on 11 and 12 January on over 60 targets at 16 sites in Yemen, with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, as a response to repeated and escalating Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, notably the complex attack of 9 January following repeated messages from the international community.  

The EU continues actively engaging and coordinating with partners in all diplomatic fora, to counter the Houthi threats to commercial vessels and find effective solutions. The High Representative, on behalf of the EU and its Member States, issued a joint statement, published last Friday welcoming the 10 January UN Security Council resolution 2722. The UN Security [Council] resolution recognises that States are entitled to defend themselves against the attacks against their vessels - [that are] in perfect contradiction, by the way, of international law. 

The EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta shares maritime awareness with the multi-nation Operation ‘Prosperity Guardian’ from its operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Further options will be discussed at the level of the European Council concerning the EU maritime response.

However, it is unlikely that the Houthis will be deterred immediately given the international visibility they have enjoyed with these actions. Houthi leaders have already indicated they will continue their attacks as long as the situation in Gaza remains. They have already resumed attacks with a missile fired towards US forces on 14 January. 

The last point of concern is the impact these developments in the Red Sea can have on peace efforts in Yemen which had reached a new positive phase on 23 December with the UN’s takeover of the peace process following a year of Saudi-Houthi backchannel talks.  

Thank you. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251493  

Closing remarks  

Dear Madame President, dear Members, 

The debate today illustrates the importance and the complexity of the situation in the Red Sea and the Gulf region, as a whole, and the challenges that the European Union faces indeed in relation to this conflict but also to other conflicts.

The European Union is actively working on solutions to restore maritime security in the Red Sea.

This is an international problem that requires an international solution and coordination.  

As you asked me about what the European Union is preparing in relation to the EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, further options concerning the European Union’s maritime response will be discussed at Council level based on proposals presented by the High Representative. 

The European Union is engaging with partners in different diplomatic fora. To protect navigational freedoms and maritime security, the European Union considers ways to enhance its presence, assets, and capacity of actions in the Red Sea and beyond.  

It is too early to evaluate the impact of the Houthis attacks and United States/United Kingdom retaliation on the discussions concerning an internal cease-fire in Yemen. The European Union will continue to support UN Special Envoy [for Yemen, Hans] Grundberg’s work and the UN-steered peace process leading to a final comprehensive and inclusive peace deal, including a permanent nation-wide ceasefire. 

And just one personal remark: I am a bit surprised that those who are bombing every night civilians, killing civilians, destroying infrastructures, houses, apartments, that they are in the full front to condemn what finally is a military operation against terrorist attacks against the peaceful vessels.

Thank you. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251495