The Prime Minister welcomed an EU delegation, reaffirming support for the government’s urgent priorities.

Prime Minister Receives European Union Delegation

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Brek welcomed a delegation from the European Union, led by Helen Le Galle, Director of the Middle East and North Africa at the European External Action Service. The meeting also included Gabriel Vinales, the EU Ambassador to Yemen.

Discussing Partnership and Support

The discussions focused on the existing and future partnership between Yemen and the EU. The Prime Minister highlighted the EU’s diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic support. Additionally, they addressed the assistance provided to the Yemeni Coast Guard in combating smuggling and ensuring international navigation security. The meeting emphasized the importance of joint coordination to tackle regional and international challenges.

Addressing Urgent Priorities

The Prime Minister outlined the government’s urgent priorities in service and economic sectors. He discussed the comprehensive reform agenda, the economic recovery plan, and the necessary European and international interventions to support these initiatives. Key topics included strengthening the national currency and alleviating the humanitarian suffering exacerbated by Houthi terrorist attacks on oil facilities and maritime shipping.

European Delegation’s Insights

The European delegation provided an overview of cooperation priorities and future areas of collaboration. They reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Yemen and mentioned preparations for a high-level humanitarian conference in Brussels this month. This conference aims to mobilize support for Yemen’s humanitarian needs for the current year. The delegation congratulated the Prime Minister on his leadership during these challenging times and expressed their commitment to providing essential support for urgent priorities. They also emphasized the EU’s firm stance on international navigation security and the need to enhance the capabilities of the Yemeni Coast Guard to prevent arms smuggling to the Houthis.

Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

Prime Minister Salem bin Brek expressed his appreciation for the strategic partnership with the EU and European nations. He acknowledged the humanitarian and developmental support provided to Yemen and expressed hopes for increasing and expanding this assistance across various sectors. He reviewed the current economic and humanitarian situation, outlining the government’s urgent priorities to alleviate citizens’ suffering and the expected role of EU partners in supporting these efforts.

Commitment to Economic Stability

The Prime Minister stressed the government’s urgent priority, guided by the Presidential Leadership Council, to achieve economic stability and halt the decline of the national currency. He also addressed the need to resolve electricity outages and the importance of having regional and international support for these efforts.

Ensuring Maritime Security

In closing, the Prime Minister praised the EU’s efforts to ensure maritime security in the Red Sea. He reiterated that restoring state authority and ending the Iranian-backed Houthi coup is essential to eliminate the threat posed by Houthi militias to international navigation.

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