European Union policies toward the war in Yemen

The European Union is one of the international blocs that holds a global influence, which can be seen reflected in the Yemeni file. The EU participated in supporting the peace-process efforts in Yemen, including diplomatic moves between 2019 and 2021, by meeting both sides in Sana’a and Aden, as well as by meeting the Saudi side through the head of the European mission and several ambassadors of European countries, in Yemen.

The European Union released several statements and decisions between 2015 and 2021 in which it expressed its concern about the deterioration of the security, humanitarian and economic situation in Yemen, emphasizing the need to avoid targeting civilians and infrastructure, to provide safe corridors for relief workers and to urge the parties to stop the violence and apply the decisions of Security Council. It also affirmed its support for Yemen’s constitutional legitimacy and national unity, as well as accusing all parties involved in the conflict in Yemen of committing “violations of human rights and international humanitarian law”, calling for an international investigation.

The European Union participated in financing peace programs and peace initiatives, supporting several confidence-building measures, especially in Taiz and Hodeidah, and backing the Peace Support process in Yemen, led by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

On the humanitarian side, the European Union has engaged in humanitarian activities by supporting the efforts of the United Nations to ease the flow of commercial products and humanitarian aid to Yemen. On the economic side, the EU has provided long-term development aid, estimated at 353.7 million euros, since 2015, while the allocations to Yemen under the Development Cooperation Instrument amounted to 150 million euros, for the period of 2018 to 2020.