Every year, we celebrate on this occasion the foundation of the European Union. It all started when Robert Schuman, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave a landmark speech back in 1950, right after the most devastating war the world has ever known. After consultations with the new German government, Schuman announced a declaration that condensed the ideas of Jean Monnet and others. And these ideas were in fact simple but brilliant: since war had been made possible by using coal and steel, France and Germany would put the production these two materials under a single supra-national authority. This would in turn spur economic cooperation between the two enemies, which would eventually lead to political integration. It took time and lots of efforts, but the idea worked. For the first time in many centuries, the European continent has been largely at peace for more than seven decades. 

Unfortunately, in 2022, war returned to Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine and continues to this day bombing its cities and towns. The invasion was a massive shock for Europeans. But alas, the war in Ukraine is not the only conflict that is still raging. Closer to home, the war in Gaza has not yet stopped. And the EU has continued advocating for a ceasefire, calling for the respect of international humanitarian law, for the release of hostages, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. In a war, all sides lose. And civilians always pay the ultimate price. 

This has been the case in Yemen for years now. The war has varied in intensity, but the conflict persists and peace is still elusive. We have seen during the past year how Yemen was dragged into a regional escalation beyond the country’s borders. What has been the result? Those paying the price are, again, Yemenis from all over the country, who suffer from violence, a very difficult economic situation, and the lack of a brighter future. 

In this context, what is the EU doing in Yemen? 

The European Union is, first and foremost, a long standing friend of Yemen and the Yemenis, heavily invested in the country across the policy board, with close to 2 billion Euro in total assistance since the eruption of the conflict in 2015. We remain committed to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen. 

We are a partner for peace and security. We support UN-led peace efforts in Yemen, the work of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and his office, through a variety of tools and initiatives, and we continue liaising closely with regional and international partners in this regard. We support Yemeni civil society and track II organisations in their work to assist Yemenis and find opportunities to build peace. This is a key goal for the EU, and for the international community, advancing towards inclusive and sustainable peace in Yemen. We believe that a negotiated political settlement under UN auspices, with regional backing and endorsed by the international community, offers the best avenue for a better future, not only for Yemen but also for the region as a whole.

Having said this, we have firmly echoed the UN Security Council's demands for a cessation of these attacks on navigation, and established a maritime security operation, ASPIDES, to protect, with a defensive mandate, commercial shipping. 

The European Union supports President Rashad Al Alimi, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and the Government of Yemen. Unity and reform are as ever of the essence in this crucial juncture. We look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Bin Breik on much needed administrative and economic measures, the Government’s reform plan that we want to help implement with other donors. We are also providing support to the Yemeni Consultation and Reconciliation Commission, and- its efforts vis-a-vis Yemeni political parties to promote dialogue and collaboration. 

We are a principled, consistent and reliable partner for life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people in need. The EU has stood by Yemenis since the beginning of the conflict. We have provided more than 1.6 billion euros in humanitarian support, and we remain among the country’s top humanitarian donors. This month, we will be co-chairing in Brussels the seventh annual humanitarian Senior Official Meeting on Yemen, where we will renew our commitment and mobilise partners to address the country’s pressing needs, and the need for a conducive operating environment for humanitarian and development workers. In that regard, we continue firmly echoing the call of the UN Secretary General for the immediate and unconditional release of local staff of UN agencies, NGOs and diplomatic missions arbitrarily detained by the Houthis. 

 We promote economic resilience in Yemen, where we fund projects in all sectors worth more than 250 million euros. We are engaging with Yemeni youth, providing them with opportunities. We are supporting Yemeni women and the Women Peace and Security Agenda. Their inclusion in Yemen’s governance structures is key for the country’s future. 

Yemen is a stunning country. We tend to look at it through the prism of conflict and war, but we in the EU would like to propose a different approach. This week, we have organised a series of events here in Amman to put Yemen’s amazing cultural scene on display. We have invited Yemeni artists, painters, photographers, movie-makers, to join us and celebrate Yemen’s cultural diversity and ingenuity. In collaboration with Goethe Institute, we have organised our ‘Yemen Week’, and we have been honoured to mark our EU Day by showcasing Yemeni talent in different locations of the city. I invite you to visit our photo exhibition ‘A Closer Look at Yemen’, displayed at the National Gallery of Fine Arts, where four Yemeni photographers, present with us here tonight, invite us to see hope, joy and beauty in Yemenis daily lives. Their work is outstanding. More than anything else, artists like them give us all a reason to continue working for a better future for all of us. 

Allow me, lastly, to express my gratitude to all my colleagues in the EU Delegation to Yemen. We deeply appreciate your dedication and commitment, as well as your invaluable support to the work of this office.  Without you, none of this would be possible. 

Thank you.