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European Parliament urges EU to put Yemen's Houthis on its terrorist list
MEPs backed a non-binding resolution by a large majority, condemning the Houthi blockade of Saudi Arabia and attacks on Red Sea shipping. The final call rests with member governments, which must agree unanimously.
Key points
- MEPs adopted the resolution by a large majority in a show of hands on Thursday.
- It calls for freezing all funds of the Houthis and those who help them.
- The EU's Aspides naval mission has three ships; Kaja Kallas says at least 10 are needed.
The European Parliament on Thursday called on the European Union to add Yemen’s Houthi movement to its list of terrorist organisations, after weeks of escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The non-binding resolution was adopted by a large majority of MEPs in a show of hands at the parliament’s session in Strasbourg. It urges the freezing of all funds and economic resources belonging to the Houthis and to those who help them.
A listing would mainly bring financial restrictions: bank accounts and property in EU countries could be frozen, and people and companies in the EU would be barred from financing the group. The decision, though, belongs to member states, and any new listing needs the unanimous approval of all 27 governments.
The resolution condemns the Houthi naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and the group’s attacks on energy infrastructure and on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. MEPs described these as violations of international law that have deepened Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
The Houthis launched an offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast in July. A Saudi-led counter-offensive reversed much of their gains, but the group still threatens ships passing through the strait. Britain has pledged defensive missions to protect Riyadh.
MEPs also stressed the role of Aspides, the EU’s naval mission in the Red Sea, and urged member states to send more ships and aircraft. The mission now has three ships, from Italy and Greece, with two more pledged by Belgium and the Netherlands. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said at least 10 are needed.