Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
A high-level delegation from the EU, including ambassadors and diplomats from France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, has concluded a multi-day visit to the Yemeni governorates of Aden and Lahj. The visit aimed to strengthen the EU’s partnership with the Yemeni government and support ongoing development and reform efforts.
The delegation was led by EU Ambassador Gabriel Munuera Viñals and included Dutch Ambassador Janet Alberda, French Ambassador Catherine Corm-Kamon, and German Ambassador Hubert Jaeger, along with several senior European officials.
The delegation held a virtual meeting with member of the Presidential Leadership Council Tariq Saleh, as well as in-person meetings in Aden with Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Mohsen Al-Da’eri, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Waed Badhib, Minister of Transport Dr. Abdul Salam Humaid, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa Noman.
They also met with Aden Governor Ahmed Lamlas, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Omar Banaja, and Head of the Yemeni Coast Guard, Maj. Gen. Khaled Al-Qamaly.
The ambassadors reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, stressing the importance of national unity and the continuation of reforms to improve economic and public service conditions.
The delegation discussed the challenges of delivering basic services in Aden, with a focus on creating a conducive environment for humanitarian and development operations and safeguarding civil space.
Additionally, the EU delegation visited several EU-funded development projects, including the Innovation Hub and the fish market in Aden, as well as a school and fish market rehabilitation project in Al-Houta, Lahj governorate. They also toured the Yemeni Coast Guard Center and reviewed efforts to enhance its operations.
The ambassadors met with civil society representatives and activists working in human rights and women’s empowerment, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting an active civil society in Yemen, promoting women’s empowerment, and protecting human rights.
The visit concluded with a strong message from the EU delegation affirming the Union’s commitment to supporting Yemen on its path toward peace and development, expressing hope that the visit would further strengthen cooperation and partnership between the EU and Yemen.
