European Parliament Urges EU Terrorist Listing for Houthis
BRUSSELS, October 22 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - The European Parliament urged the Council of the European Union on Thursday to add the Houthi movement to the EU’s terrorist list and freeze its financial assets, as lawmakers condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia and international shipping.
The resolution called for the listing to cover the movement’s military and political wings, leadership, and military and security apparatus, following a proposal by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Lawmakers also sought the freezing of funds and economic resources belonging to the Houthis and their facilitators, alongside measures to dismantle the movement’s financing channels.
Maritime security featured prominently in the resolution. Parliament condemned attacks on commercial shipping and energy infrastructure in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, warning that disruption was increasing energy prices and weakening the European economy’s competitiveness.
It called on EU member states to contribute additional naval and air assets to ASPIDES, the bloc’s defensive maritime security operation, to protect international shipping.
The resolution reaffirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government. It also called for stronger security and defense cooperation between the EU and its Gulf partners.
Lawmakers condemned the Houthis’ military offensive in Yemen, attacks against Saudi Arabia, and missile and drone attacks against the UAE and Israel in recent years.
Parliament also condemned Iran’s provision of weapons and financing to the Houthis and denounced coordination between the movement, Hezbollah and other armed groups. It stressed the need to disarm militias and non-state armed groups.
The resolution demanded an immediate end to Houthi hostilities and territorial ambitions, while expressing concern about Yemen’s worsening humanitarian conditions.
It called for increased EU humanitarian assistance through the forthcoming Global Europe instrument, with strict oversight of how the funding is used.
