Rapporti verbatim tad-dibattiti

L-Erbgħa, 29 ta' Novembru 2017 - Brussell

22. Sitwazzjoni fil-Jemen (dibattitu)

  El Presidente. – El punto siguiente en el orden del día es el debate a partir de la Declaración de la vicepresidenta de la Comisión / alta representante de la Unión para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad sobre la situación en Yemen (2017/2849(RSP)).

  Christos Stylianides, Member of the Commission, on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. – Mr President, forgive me if I skip the introductions and go straight to the point. The war in Yemen must end. In times of dire humanitarian crisis world-wide, from Syria to Myanmar, Yemen still continues to be the worst of all. And the situation, unfortunately, is getting worse.

The current escalation is undermining the prospects of a political settlement, which is the only sustainable solution. We immediately condemned the launch of a missile targeting Riyadh, and we understand Saudi Arabia’s security concerns. At the same time, the new measures taken by the coalition are having a severe impact on the delivery of life-saving assistance. Commercial goods cannot enter the areas beyond government control. Most Yemenis no longer have the means to get food or fuel.

This escalation has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation. Today 19 million people are severely affected by the conflict – 19 million people! More than 7 million are on the verge of famine. Yemen is also facing the largest cholera outbreak in living memory. Almost one million suspected cases and more than 2 000 deaths from cholera have been recorded. The numbers are shocking.

It has become almost impossible for aid agencies to provide the necessary assistance to the people in need. Despite international pressure and condemnation, international humanitarian law continues to be disregarded. Markets, hospitals, clinics, schools, factories and hundreds of private residences have been hit by air strikes. Densely populated cities continue to be under siege.

This war is not only causing mass starvation in Yemen. It is also creating a war economy that benefits only the smugglers and traffickers. All kinds of illegal traffickers, including those involved in arms trafficking, find their way into the country via well-established irregular routes. And beyond the humanitarian tragedy, the security situation is also getting worse. The recent missile attack directed at Riyadh shows that three years of war have made Saudi Arabia, together with the whole region, less secure.

Meanwhile, al-Qa’ida and Daesh have found fertile ground in the southeast of the country, precisely at the moment when they have been forced out of Iraq and Syria. This is all happening a few miles from one of the busiest maritime corridors in the world, on the route connecting the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. More than 10% of global trade transits through this corridor.

At a time of rising tensions in the Middle East, we cannot afford the risk of a larger conflict. That would be an even greater tragedy, not only for the region but also for the world. It is a global threat. This is the situation we face, and we, the European Union, are on the front line of the world to address both the humanitarian and the political crisis.

Firstly, we are doing everything we can to address humanitarian needs. We have privately and publicly called for access to be granted to humanitarian workers. I went myself to Riyadh last month, together with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), to discuss ways to improve humanitarian aid delivery in Yemen.

Our humanitarian advocacy was intensified with the adoption of common humanitarian messages in 2017. Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Yemen were adopted in April this year. Two diplomatic démarches, on access and delivery of humanitarian relief, were delivered to all the parties to the conflict, in March and in August. We are, again, among the top humanitarian donors.

The UN Human Rights Council decided in September to establish an international group of experts to examine alleged violations of human rights and international law. We fully support this initiative to guarantee accountability and prevent new abuses.

My second point is that humanitarian aid is crucial but it is not enough. As we have said many times, unfortunately, for humanitarian problems we need political solutions. The people of Yemen cannot wait to get sanitation or electricity. There are a number of early recovery projects that can be started right now, even before a final settlement is agreed upon. We are already working with our partners on health, nutrition and local development programmes. Such early recovery can also provide us with some extra leverage to push for peace and conciliation.

Thirdly, and maybe the most important point, the European Union is working intensively to help find a political solution to the crisis. We are urging the whole international community to work towards a resumption of the political track. We are encouraging the parties to reach a political solution under UN auspices. We have engaged directly with all parties to build confidence through informal initiatives, particularly at local level. In coordination with the UN Special Envoy and his team, we have explored the possibility of local ceasefires based on mutual trust. This would also lay the groundwork for a resumption of peace talks.

We urgently need to revive peace negotiations. Every day, the humanitarian situation gets worse, the security situation also gets worse and a political solution becomes more difficult to achieve. Along with Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, we are using all possible channels to restart the political track. We are sure that we can also count on Parliament’s support to bring this tragedy an end. And what we are talking about here is a tragedy, with many tragic aspects.

PRZEWODNICTWO: RYSZARD CZARNECKI
Wiceprzewodniczący

  Tunne Kelam, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, I can only agree with the Commissioner’s statement. Yemen has become a key battlefield for the Iranian-Saudi Arabian regional conflict. The country is now fragmented and is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today, but the immediate victims are the people of Yemen. Systematic destruction of infrastructure, civilian targets and the blocking of ports have resulted in a truly catastrophic situation where two thirds, or 28 million, of the population are suffering from dramatic shortages of food and water. In fact, starvation and diseases have become a much greater killer than the war itself.

Just one fact: it is estimated that 130 children die each day from famine. I am glad that the Commission and Parliament are united in condemning indiscriminate airstrikes against civilians. We also condemned the launching by Houthi rebels of Iranian-provided missiles against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The situation has become really explosive, as the conflict is spilling over the borders of Yemen. The key priority today is to allow UN relief ships to enter the ports and provide immediate aid to those who are in need. Yes, two days ago, something happened; one port and Sanaa Airport were reopened, but it is far from being enough.

The EU and international actors must work together to bring the main opponents to negotiations. The EU needs an urgent and integrated strategy for Yemen, accompanied by a new push for a Yemen peace initiative under the auspices of the UN. Today, there can be no more excuses for delaying united international action to end this human and political disaster.

  Victor Boştinaru, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Mr President, I will just add my voice to that of my colleague, Tunne Kelam, and to the Commissioner’s statement because, indeed, in Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world, war and famine continue in all impunity.

Civilians die under the bombs of one of the richest countries in the world – Saudi Arabia – a country to which we continue to sell arms and offer support. The other side of the story is that while we are turning a blind eye and while some are shamefully choosing sides, Saudi Arabia and Iran are turning Yemen into chaos and misery. This is a terrible man—made disaster and it is mostly the result of a wider conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia. I am therefore very worried about the rising tensions and the way this could further affect the whole Middle East region and beyond.

It is difficult to describe the human tragedy going on in Yemen, with famine, malnutrition, a cholera outbreak and death. It is, as many will say today, the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The Commissioner repeatedly mentioned that this is the worst humanitarian crisis known in the world. Yemen is highly dependent on food imports. The Saudi-led coalition has blocked much of the country’s air, sea and land ports, thus there is no access for the desperately-needed humanitarian aid, medicines, assistance and so on. I am adding my voice today to those calling for an immediate and total lift of the blockade and a return to the negotiating table.

Impunity cannot be accepted, neither in Yemen nor in any other place. The many war crimes perpetrated in this conflict have to be investigated and prosecuted. On Monday, a complaint was submitted to the International Criminal Court on this matter and I can only hope an investigation will be launched soon.

Finally, it is imperative to put an end to this conflict, but it is also imperative to realise that long-term aid alone cannot address the full needs of 28 million people. Yemenis need a sustainable solution for development in agriculture, to fund and address their existential needs and give them a chance to live in peace. This is the comprehensive answer they need and it is our duty to help, together with other international actors, find a solution to the worst tragedy known in the history of mankind.

  Charles Tannock, on behalf of the ECR Group. – Mr President, I too remain deeply concerned about the large and unacceptable levels of civilian deaths allegedly due to the poor targeting or even indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas by the Saudi-led coalition in this tragic conflict – actions that must be condemned in the strongest terms. Continued attacks on Saudi territory by the Houthi rebels too, however, cannot be tolerated and its recent targeting of Riyadh’s International Airport in a missile attack points to the escalating nature of this conflict. Credible reports that the missile was supplied by Iran further illustrate the complications.

Meanwhile, the people of Yemen are suffering from the largest humanitarian crisis in recent times. The Saudi-led naval blockade is leading to unacceptable food and medical supply shortages. Poor sanitary conditions have also led to a tragic cholera outbreak of epidemic proportions as the number of cases is set to reach one million by the close of this year, only a few months after the first reported case.

I therefore echo calls for the EU and Member States to continue their support for the efforts of Ismail Ahmed in trying to negotiate a peace in his role as UN Special Envoy. This tragedy must stop, and all war crimes must be investigated and all those brought to justice.

  Marietje Schaake, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Mr President, the war in Yemen is leading to unprecedented humanitarian suffering. Let there be no mistake; these problems and this suffering are man—made. The most respected international organisations are crystal clear. I quote: ‘The largest food security emergency in the world’, says the UN Food and Agriculture Organization; ‘130 children dying every day’, Save the Children; ‘Half of all health facilities closed due to damage, destruction or lack of funds’, World Health Organization; and ‘Nearly 900 000 cases of cholera’, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

There are 20.7 million Yemenis who require assistance and, as if that is not cruel enough and bad enough, the Saudi-led coalition, as well as rebels, are blocking land, air and sea borders and access for lifesaving deliveries to people in need. Even if some of these blockades are lifted now, this in no way compensates for the devastating choice of blocking in the first place. Aid should never become a weapon of war.

Conventional weapons of war, including cluster bombs, have been used and are causing civilian deaths on top of the indiscriminate airstrikes that continue to kill. We call for an urgent end to the violence and urge the High Representative to come up with an EU strategy towards Yemen. Key elements of such an EU strategy should be: to engage the Saudi and Iranian sides, to engage in ending the violence and to support the UN-led negotiations. Of course, airstrikes and the killing of civilians should stop, as well as all blockades, so that lifesaving aid can continue to reach people.

We also should have EU funding for accountability mechanisms that must hold violators of international law and those who commit crimes against humanity to account. For the third time now, we in Parliament call for an EU-wide weapons embargo on Saudi Arabia. The Houthi rebels are already under an embargo.

  Ángela Vallina, en nombre del Grupo GUE/NGL. – Señor presidente, tras más de dos años del olvidado conflicto en Yemen, con más de 50 000 civiles muertos, heridos o mutilados, la peor hambruna del mundo y una terrible epidemia de cólera, la situación ha llegado a un punto crítico con la escalada de tensiones en la zona.

Arabia Saudí refuerza sus bombardeos y su bloqueo contra el pueblo yemení. Aunque lo levante parcialmente, el sufrimiento del pueblo yemení continúa: 130 niños yemeníes mueren cada día; dos millones de niños y niñas han tenido que abandonar sus escuelas; mientras, el Dáesh se expande y multiplica sus atentados; y Trump echa más leña al fuego apoyando las agresiones de Arabia Saudí, a la vez que multiplica sus ejecuciones extrajudiciales con drones en Yemen. No estamos ante una crisis humanitaria provocada por una catástrofe natural sino por una guerra, y la solución a la guerra no es más guerra.

Señor comisario, le agradezco su presencia, de verdad, pero quien hoy debería estar aquí en este debate es la alta representante para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad, la señora Mogherini.

Dieciséis Estados miembros de la Unión, con el Reino Unido, España —mi país—, Francia, Italia y Alemania a la cabeza, siguen vendiendo armas a Arabia Saudí. Mi país, España, ha reconocido una venta por un valor de 1 383 millones de euros en los últimos cinco años. Todo esto alentado por la conocida y estrecha relación entre la familia real saudí y la española.

Estos Estados europeos violan el Derecho internacional humanitario y son no solamente cómplices, sino colaboradores necesarios de esta masacre. Para realmente parar esta masacre la Unión Europea debe aplicar la Resolución ya aprobada por este Parlamento, que espero que mañana volvamos a aprobar, de imponer inmediatamente el embargo en la venta de armas a Arabia Saudí.

  Barbara Lochbihler, im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident! Es ist ein Skandal, dass EU-Mitgliedstaaten den Krieg im Jemen durch Waffenexporte an Konfliktparteien weiterhin unterstützen. Das Europäische Parlament hat sich bereits im Februar 2016 klar positioniert und ein Waffenembargo gegen Saudi-Arabien gefordert. Diese Position wird auch in der morgigen Entschließung bekräftigt. Trotzdem liefern zahlreiche EU-Staaten – darunter Großbritannien, Frankreich und Deutschland – weiterhin Waffen an den Golfstaat. Damit muss Schluss sein. Wer Waffen an Kriegsparteien liefert, der macht sich mitschuldig. Ich fordere die Hohe Vertreterin nachdrücklich auf, endlich umzusetzen, wozu dieses Parlament sie mehrfach aufgefordert hat, nämlich eine Initiative zur Verhängung eines Waffenembargos der EU gegen Saudi-Arabien in die Wege zu leiten. Wir erwarten, dass Frau Mogherini als Vorsitzende des Außenministerrates das Embargo formal auf die Tagesordnung des nächsten Treffens setzt.

In diesem Krieg wurden bereits tausende Zivilisten durch Militäreinsätze getötet. Dabei werden vor allem Saudi-Arabien und den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten massive Verstöße gegen das Völkerrecht vorgeworfen. In diesem Krieg begangene Verbrechen müssen aufgeklärt und die Verantwortlichen zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden. Daher unterstützen wir umfassende Untersuchungen, wie sie auch vom Menschenrechtsrat der Vereinten Nationen gefordert werden.

Die humanitäre Katastrophe im Jemen verschärft sich dramatisch: Millionen Menschen sind vom Hunger bedroht, und Cholera breitet sich aus. Saudi-Arabien und seine Verbündeten müssen sofort alle Blockaden der Häfen und Flughäfen aufheben. Vor diesem Hintergrund appelliere ich auch an die geschäftsführende Bundesregierung in Berlin, keine weiteren Patrouillenboote an Saudi-Arabien zu liefern. Genau diese Boote können genutzt werden, um Häfen zu blockieren und Hunger als Waffe gegen die Bevölkerung einzusetzen.

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo, a nome del gruppo EFDD. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, in Yemen un bambino muore ogni dieci minuti. Una catastrofe umanitaria inaccettabile, figlia di una guerra per procura sanguinosa, barbara e meschina. Sì, meschina. Come meschino è il blocco imposto da Riad su porti e aeroporti del paese, perché le sue atroci conseguenze, come sempre, le pagano i civili. Ogni giorno le famiglie devono scegliere se comprare l'acqua pulita o il pane, perché non possono permettersi entrambi, non più.

Condanno fortemente il lancio del missile da parte dei ribelli Houthi, ma sottolineo anche che è sotto gli occhi di tutti la solita ipocrita asimmetria: da un lato gli Houthi, giustamente sottoposti a un embargo sulle armi da più di due anni, e dall'altro l'Arabia Saudita e i nostri Stati membri che, nonostante le continue, reiterate e insistenti richieste di questo Parlamento, del nostro Parlamento, continuano a esportare e permettere l'utilizzo di armamenti europei in Yemen, e non solo.

Il mio paese, l'Italia, figura purtroppo nel novero dei mercanti di morte. Le foto del Premier Gentiloni a Riad testimoniamo sin troppo bene l'impegno a sostenere questo business insanguinato, alla faccia della posizione comune sull'export di armi, ridotta ormai a una farsa.

I nostri Stati membri sono complici, questa è la verità, e per l'ennesima volta rivolgo all'Alto rappresentante la richiesta di proporre e pretendere un embargo immediato delle armi verso Riad. Non è solo il nostro appello, è l'appello disperato del popolo yemenita, mentre si consuma un diabolico stallo negoziale, mentre i suoi figli, i suoi bambini, continuano a morire, uno ogni dieci minuti.

  Franz Obermayr, im Namen der ENF-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident! Der Bürgerkrieg in Jemen – eine humanitäre Katastrophe – dauert nun fast sechs Jahre, und täglich sterben über hundert Kinder, zwei Millionen Kinder sind unterernährt, es gibt kaum sauberes Trinkwasser und eine Million ist mit Cholera infiziert.

Es ist ein Stellvertreterkrieg zwischen den von den USA unterstützen Saudis auf der einen Seite und den Rebellen, unterstützt von den Schiiten, auf der anderen Seite – alles auf dem Rücken der Bevölkerung. Die Entschließungen in diesem Haus waren zwar richtig, aber es gibt natürlich noch viel zu tun, es sind noch viele Anstrengungen zu unternehmen wie zum Beispiel ein Stopp der Waffenlieferungen – auch der Waffenlieferungen an die Saudis – die auch von europäischen Staaten durchgeführt werden, Ende der Flächenbombardements, Wiederaufnahme der Verhandlungen und vor allem die Öffnung der Häfen, die von den Saudis blockiert werden.

Ich weiß schon: Es ist einfacher, ex-jugoslawische Generäle vor ein Kriegsgericht zu stellen als Angehörige der saudischen Königsfamilie.

  Udo Voigt (NI). – Herr Präsident! Herr Kommissar, Sie haben zu Recht darauf hingewiesen: Krankenhäuser, Schulen und Wohnhäuser werden bombardiert, bei Luftangriffen zerstört, Frauen und Kinder werden getötet, das sind sogenannte Kollateralschäden.

Doch wer hat denn in diesem Krieg Flugzeuge, wer kann bombardieren? Das sind doch nicht etwa die Huthi-Rebellen? Die Huthi-Rebellen, die sich einmal gewehrt haben gegen politische Verfolgung, gegen Missachtung durch eine sunnitische Mehrheit. Diese Huthi-Rebellen werden von den Vereinten Nationen mit einem Waffenembargo belegt, während auf der anderen Seite die sunnitische Mehrheit von Saudi-Arabien, den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten, den USA, Großbritannien, Jordanien, Marokko, Pakistan und Al- Qaida unterstützt wird. Warum beschließen wie hier in diesem Hause keine Maßnahmen gegen diese Staaten? Warum unternehmen wir nichts gegen Großbritannien, welches in unserer EU noch Mitglied ist und sich führend an diesen Bombenangriffen beteiligt?

Die Sanktionen und die Maßnahmen der EU sind nicht weitreichend genug. Sie müssen gegen alle gerichtet sein!

  Cristian Dan Preda (PPE). – Monsieur le Président, nous avons discuté de la situation au Yémen il y a quelques mois et, depuis, il n’y a aucune amélioration, bien au contraire.

La situation s’est fortement aggravée ces dernières semaines à cause du blocus maritime et terrestre, qui n’a fait que plonger les populations civiles dans le désarroi.

Au-delà de la situation humanitaire, le prolongement de cette guerre est synonyme d’effondrement de toutes les institutions étatiques. Les deux petites lueurs d’espoir auxquelles nous pouvons nous raccrocher sont la levée partielle du blocus, qui a permis l’acheminement d’une partie de l’aide humanitaire, et l’organisation de pourparlers à Londres en présence des Nations unies.

Quel rôle l’Union européenne peut-elle jouer? Tout d’abord, je dirais qu’il faut appuyer une levée totale du blocus, avec la réouverture définitive des ports et des aéroports, pour assurer l’accès de l’aide humanitaire et les échanges commerciaux et, effectivement, sortir la population civile de l’isolement. Cette réouverture doit se faire tout en s’assurant que les conditions de sécurité sont réunies car nous ne pouvons pas tolérer que des missiles soient lancés sur les pays voisins.

Ensuite, l’Union européenne peut et doit – à mon avis – jouer un rôle sur le plan diplomatique. On ne peut plus se permettre d’être seulement un acteur humanitaire. Les négociations sont au point mort, alors que l’Union européenne est un interlocuteur crédible aux yeux de toutes les parties impliquées dans le conflit.

En résumé, nous devons mettre l’accent sur trois points que je considère essentiels: un cessez-le-feu immédiat, un plan de paix réaliste, sous l’égide des Nations unies, et, enfin, un soutien aux institutions étatiques afin de ne laisser aucune place au vide sécuritaire, une fois la paix rétablie.

(L’orateur accepte de répondre à une question «carton bleu» (article 162, paragraphe 8, du règlement))

  Franz Obermayr (ENF), Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Ich darf eine Frage an den geschätzten Herrn Kollegen Preda richten, der ja bekanntlicherweise ein besonderes Gespür hat, wenn irgendwo interveniert wird, speziell vonseiten Russlands.

Daher würde es mich interessieren, ob ihm bewusst ist, dass fast alle Waffen aus den Vereinigten Staaten bzw. aus Europa nach Saudi-Arabien geliefert werden, und ob er Informationen hat oder mir Informationen geben kann, ob in diesen gesamten Konflikt auch Russland involviert ist, sei es durch Waffenlieferungen, sei es durch personelle Unterstützung. Es würde mich sehr freuen, Herr Preda, wenn Sie mir die Antwort geben könnten. Sie sind sicher gut informiert.

  Cristian Dan Preda (PPE), réponse «carton bleu». – Monsieur Obermayr, à ma connaissance, 17 pays membres de l’Union vendent des armes. Je ne sais pas quel est le poids de l’industrie russe des armements car je n’ai pas de chiffres sous la main, mais je vous serais reconnaissant, si vous disposiez de ces chiffres, de nous les détailler.

En tout cas, puisque vous avez mentionné la question de la Russie, j’espère bien que le conflit au Yémen ne sera pas résolu comme cela est en train de se passer en Syrie, à savoir sans la participation des Arabes. Ce qui se passe maintenant avec le conflit en Syrie, c’est que les Russes, les Turcs et les Iraniens concluront un arrangement dont les Européens et les Arabes seront exclus. Selon moi, les Européens et les Arabes doivent s’investir à la fois dans la résolution du conflit en Syrie et dans la résolution du conflit au Yémen.

  Cécile Kashetu Kyenge (S&D). – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, signor Commissario, questo dibattito ci porta a parlare dello Yemen e sottolinea diverse situazioni che sono state qui ricordate dal Commissario: la crisi umanitaria, la peggiore degli ultimi tempi, la crisi securitaria, il conflitto che porta un'emergenza alimentare. Io vorrei ricordare che lo Yemen fa parte dei quattro paesi che stanno conoscendo carestia e fame. Ecco, io vorrei soffermarmi su un altro punto, che ha sottolineato Lei signor Commissario, quello di aver evidenziato la situazione dei diritti umani, il cui rispetto deve rimanere al centro delle nostre preoccupazioni.

Esprimo prima di tutto il mio più sentito cordoglio alle famiglie delle vittime del conflitto che all'interno dello Yemen continua a seminare morte e desolazione. La presa e il ruolo dell'Arabia Saudita sullo Yemen sono cosa conosciuta, ma noi sappiamo che, a causa di questo conflitto, abbiamo una popolazione yemenita con importanti perdite di vite umane, nonché una situazione di estrema sofferenza per chi rimane in vita, soprattutto donne e bambini.

Abbiamo avuto occasione di denunciare il fatto che un'importante fascia della popolazione non può nemmeno accedere agli aiuti umanitari, anche solo per poter disporre di beni di primaria necessità. Questa situazione ha già meritato l'attenzione dell'Unione europea e di fatto il Commissario ci ha ricordato che l'Unione europea è il primo donatore per quello che riguarda gli aiuti umanitari e, soprattutto, la ringrazio per il fatto di aver sostenuto il monitoraggio della violazione dei diritti umani.

Abbiamo avuto l'attenzione delle Nazioni Unite, della Lega Araba e anche di diverse organizzazioni internazionali. Le Nazioni Unite si sono raccomandate di far di tutto al fine di giungere alla ripresa dei negoziati, perché solo i negoziati possono garantire una risoluzione duratura del conflitto e portare alla pace. Ci vuole un dialogo fra le diverse parti in causa, che porti a una soluzione politica inclusiva, che coinvolga tutti gli attori dell'area del Medio Oriente, incluso lo stesso Yemen.

Oltre alla popolazione yemenita, intrappolata nella guerra interna, vorrei sottolineare anche la situazione dei rifugiati yemeniti in Gibuti. Si parla di cifre al di sopra di 4 000 persone, in un piccolo paese come il Gibuti che già ne accoglie 20 000. Chiedo quindi di rafforzare gli aiuti umanitari ai rifugiati dello Yemen e di intensificare le iniziative volte a rafforzare la loro sicurezza.

Infine, invito le Nazioni Unite e l'Unione europea a intensificare anche il programma di reinsediamento di queste persone – richiedenti asilo e rifugiati – anche in altri contesti più pacifici, al fine di migliorare la loro condizione.

  Anna Elżbieta Fotyga (ECR). – Mr President, there is a security and humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen. We support the UN Special Envoy, in particular in trying to secure humanitarian corridors for those suffering; yet despite efforts vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia, we have to know that the Houthi do not act alone. There, a symmetric activity has been financed and supported by Iran changing, for some time now already, its foreign affairs paradigm and destabilising the region. In focusing somehow on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), we forget this role and our activities should be aimed at Iran as well and at trying to ensure that this country stops financing non-state actors playing this very negative role in the region.

  Lars Adaktusson (PPE). – Mr Speaker, like much of the instability in the Middle East, the tragic war in Yemen is a consequence of the destructive power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iranian support for the Houthi rebels is the source of this conflict. That support must end immediately.

At the same time, the methods used by the Saudi-led coalition are, by all means, unacceptable. The ruthless bombing of civilians and civilian infrastructure amounts to war crimes. The blockade deployed by the Saudi-led coalition aims to conquer Yemen through starvation.

Mr President, we as Members of this House must condemn the appalling actions of both Iran and Saudi Arabia in the strongest possible terms. The expansion of political or military influence will never be acceptable at the expense of innocent civilians. The people of Yemen deserve to live in democracy, in freedom and with respect for fundamental human rights.

  Julie Ward (S&D). – Amnesty International describes the current conflict in Yemen as the forgotten war. More than two and a half years of brutal bombardment from a Saudi-led coalition has received very little media attention. Civilians are the first victims of this conflict. Millions of people, particularly women and children, are now living in horrific conditions. The European Union must therefore use all means at its disposal to demand the opening of a humanitarian corridor in order to provide water, food, shelter and medical attention.

As Europeans we must call out our own governments for the responsibility they bear in the widespread human rights violations in Yemen. Not only have France and the UK backed Saudi Arabia in the conflict, some Member States have also contributed to the extrajudicial killings led by the US. Under the pretence of war against terrorism, The Trump administration has hugely increased the size and scale of its operations on Yemeni territory, including destructive air and drone strikes.

I am ashamed that my country contributes to the devastating situation of the Yemeni people by sharing intelligence with Trump’s criminal administration and helping them find locations for strikes. Other EU governments are also involved in these widespread human rights violations. Germany plays a crucial role in this programme through a satellite relay station located on its territory that allows US drones to function and Italy allows the US Government to fly drones across Libya from its Sigonella airbase. We must expose the West’s cooperation with Saudi Arabia, and in this respect Theresa May’s most recent visit this week to Saudi is ineffective and hypocritical. The Saudi bombs dropping on Yemen say ‘Made in Britain’.

  Mark Demesmaeker (ECR). – “Jemen is vandaag één van de ergste plekken op deze planeet om kind te zijn”, woorden van de regiodirecteur van Unicef. Het strategospel van de groten in de regio, Iran en Saoedi-Arabië, is ook de verschrikking voor de kleinen, de burgers van Jemen. Goed dat de internationale druk wordt opgevoerd om een einde te maken aan de blokkades, de hongersnood, de gezondheidscrises en de mensenrechtenschendingen.

Maar veel beter nog zou zijn als we ook thuis onze verantwoordelijkheid zouden nemen. Wanneer stoppen wij met de wapenleveringen? Ik kijk met schaamrood op de wangen in de eerste plaats naar mijn eigen lidstaat: in België is de wapenuitvoer bevoegdheid van de deelstaten. De Waalse regering leverde in 2015 voor 576 miljoen EUR wapens aan Saoedi-Arabië, het jaar waarin dat land zijn oorlog startte in Jemen. Wallonië, ja, die Belgische deelstaat die het handelsverdrag met Canada blokkeerde, heeft vorige maand opnieuw 25 wapenleveringen goedgekeurd, goed voor 1,8 miljard EUR!

Begrijpt u dat? Ik niet! Ik ben beschaamd en ik ben boos. Die hypocrisie haalt de geloofwaardigheid van onze lidstaten en van de Europese Unie onderuit!

Zgłoszenia z sali

  Jiří Pospíšil (PPE). – Já se chci přihlásit k té debatě, která tady právě proběhla. Strašná humanitární tragédie v této sužované zemi, v Jemenu, nám nemůže být lhostejná. Bohužel se o této věci zde bavíme opakovaně a ta situace se v posledních týdnech ještě výrazně zhoršuje. Měli bychom tedy alespoň vyvinout veliké mezinárodní úsilí na zrušení blokády letišť a přístavů a pokusit se alespoň o to, aby humanitární pomoc byla do této země zajištěna a neumíraly tam stovky lidí a dětí každý den.

Já se hlásím k tomu, co tady kolegové popisovali, jaké je pokrytectví jak některých zemí EU, tak USA v podpoře Saúdské Arábie, která má obrovský podíl na tragédii v Jemenu. Měli bychom i tyto věci na mezinárodním poli více řešit, byť v této chvíli prvotně se pokusme alespoň zajistit efektivní humanitární pomoc.

  Νότης Μαριάς (ECR). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, είναι η τέταρτη ομιλία που πραγματοποιώ από το 2015 σχετικά με την ανθρωπιστική κρίση στην Υεμένη. Η Σαουδική Αραβία και το Ιράν ξεκαθαρίζουν τους λογαριασμούς τους σε βάρος του λαού της Υεμένης. Εκεί όπου εκτυλίσσεται μιας μεγάλης κλίμακας ανθρωπιστική κρίση μια και, σύμφωνα με τον ΟΗΕ, σε σύνολο πληθυσμού 21 εκατομμυρίων τα 19 εκατομμύρια δεν έχουν πρόσβαση σε πόσιμο νερό, 7 εκατομμύρια άνθρωποι δεν έχουν πρόσβαση σε τρόφιμα και 320.000 παιδιά υποσιτίζονται, λόγω του εναέριου και ναυτικού αποκλεισμού που επιβάλλει η Σαουδική Αραβία, η οποία βομβαρδίζει καταυλισμούς προσφύγων, σχολεία, μονάδες υγείας, ακόμη και το ιατρικό κέντρο των Γιατρών Χωρίς Σύνορα. Εκεί, λοιπόν, που διαπράττονται εγκλήματα πολέμου και ενώ συμβαίνουν όλα αυτά, η κυβέρνηση ΣΥΡΙΖΑ-ΑΝΕΛ με μια επονείδιστη απόφαση δρομολογεί την πώληση χιλιάδων βλημάτων στη Σαουδική Αραβία. Πρέπει να επιβληθεί απαγόρευση εξαγωγής όπλων από τις χώρες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και τις άλλες χώρες στη Σαουδική Αραβία. Να καθίσουν στο σκαμνί οι εγκληματίες πολέμου.

  Γεώργιος Επιτήδειος (NI). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, η περίπτωση της Υεμένης είναι μία ακόμη απόδειξη της αδυναμίας της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης να διαδραματίσει έναν σημαντικό και σοβαρό ρόλο στα διεθνή πολιτικά δρώμενα. Επί τρία χρόνια αδιαφορούσε για τις παραβιάσεις των αρχών του διεθνούς δικαίου από την πλευρά της Σαουδικής Αραβίας και απλώς παρακολουθούσε την καταστροφή της χώρας και τους φόνους των αμάχων εξαιτίας των συγκρούσεων μεταξύ των στρατευμάτων της Σαουδικής Αραβίας και των Χούθι, που υποστηρίζονται από το Ιράν. Πώς όμως είναι δυνατόν να ενεργήσει διαφορετικά, όταν στη Σαουδική Αραβία πωλούν όπλα οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες και διάφορες χώρες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης· το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, η Γαλλία, η Γερμανία, η Ισπανία, ακόμη και η χώρα μου, η Ελλάδα, έχουν μεθοδεύσει την πώληση στρατιωτικού υλικού στη Σαουδική Αραβία. Και ξαφνικά, όταν εξαιτίας του αποκλεισμού των λιμένων και των αεροδρομίων της Υεμένης από τη Σαουδική Αραβία άρχισαν οι μαζικοί θάνατοι παιδιών και αδύναμων ανθρώπων, η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, υποκριτικά, αποφάσισε να επέμβει. Για να πάψει αυτή η υποκρισία πρέπει η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση να απαγορεύσει την πώληση όπλων στη Σαουδική Αραβία και να φέρει ενώπιον του Διεθνούς Δικαστηρίου αυτούς που έχουν διαπράξει εγκλήματα πολέμου.

  Κωνσταντίνος Παπαδάκης (NI). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, όσο και αν επιχειρείται να αποσιωπηθεί ο πόλεμος στην Υεμένη, ούτε ξένος ούτε άσχετος είναι με την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, τις κυβερνήσεις της και το καπιταλιστικό σύστημα που υπερασπίζονται. Η επέμβαση της Σαουδικής Αραβίας στην Υεμένη και ο ανταγωνισμός με το Ιράν συνδέονται με τα συμφέροντα των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών, της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και άλλων ισχυρών καπιταλιστικών κρατών, για τον έλεγχο της φτωχότερης χώρας της αραβικής χερσονήσου, που όμως διαθέτει, μεταξύ άλλων, στρατηγικά ναυτιλιακά περάσματα και αποτελεί σημείο διέλευσης του μεγαλύτερου όγκου εμπορευμάτων. Τα δάκρυά σας για τους αμάχους, τα μικρά παιδιά, την εξάπλωση της χολέρας και τα εκατομμύρια υποσιτιζόμενων είναι υποκριτικά. Η πώληση πολεμοφοδίων από την ελληνική κυβέρνηση, για χάρη της γεωστρατηγικής αναβάθμισης της ελληνικής αστικής τάξης, σε ένα κράτος που δολοφονεί, όπως η Σαουδική Αραβία, είναι επί της ουσίας παράδειγμα στήριξης της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης προς τη χώρα αυτή και πρέπει να ακυρωθεί. Σε αυτό επιμένει το Κομμουνιστικό Κόμμα της Ελλάδας.

(Koniec zgłoszeń z sali)

  Christos Stylianides, Member of the Commission, on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. – Mr President, this debate has been a very useful exchange and I thank our colleagues, the honourable Members, for their interventions. I gather from our exchange that we need as a matter of urgency to ensure that Yemen is high on the EU’s agenda of political priorities. We will reflect on how best to use the policy instruments at our disposal to continue to play a constructive role in ending this conflict and helping Yemen on its path to recovery and reconstruction.

There are just two points I would like to raise. Firstly, after a lot of efforts by the international community, and in particular by us as the European Union, regarding humanitarian access, just last week humanitarian flights to and from Sanaa were granted permission to operate. This is the only access for humanitarian assistance into the north of Yemen and must definitely be allowed to operate without interruption. But this is not enough of course, and this is why we have to continue to put pressure in order to sustain unrestricted humanitarian access. It is the only way to provide humanitarian assistance.

The second point I would like to clarify is that any decision to impose an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia would require unanimity within the Council.

Let me once again stress my appreciation for your having decided to debate this issue and for Parliament’s role in advancing what I see as a common goal on what is definitely a humanitarian tragedy.

  Przewodniczący. – Otrzymałem osiem projektów rezolucji złożonych zgodnie z art. 123 ust. 2 Regulaminu.

Zamykam debatę.

Głosowanie odbędzie się w czwartek 30 listopada 2017 r.

Oświadczenia pisemne (art. 162)

  David McAllister (PPE), in writing. – On 16 July, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced that 20.7 million people in Yemen are in need of assistance. Moreover the destruction of infrastructure and breakdown of public services have fuelled the outbreak of cholera. The devastating humanitarian impact of the conflict on civilians is alarming. The downward spiral in Yemen must be stopped by all means. The European Union should continue to support the efforts of the United Nations to achieve a resumption of the negotiations. All parties in the conflict have to act in a flexible and constructive manner and without preconditions to their efforts. Only a political, inclusive and negotiated solution to the conflict can restore peace and preserve the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen.

  Jiří Maštálka (GUE/NGL), písemně. – Ve společném návrhu usnesení napříč politickými frakcemi vyjadřujeme znepokojení nad tím, že se doposud nepodařilo najít politické řešení přijatelné pro všechny strany konfliktu. Zdůrazňujeme, že jediné přijatelné řešení musí být to mírové a jeho nalezení pod záštitou OSN. Od března 2015 přišlo díky konfliktu o život více než 8 000 osob a dalších 50 000 bylo zraněno. Podle Úřadu OSN pro koordinaci humanitárních záležitostí alarmující počet – 20,7 mil. osob –potřebuje pomoc, zejména potravinovou. Apelujeme tedy na všechny zúčastněné v konfliktu na jeho okamžité ukončení mírovou cestou.

  Urmas Paet (ALDE), kirjalikult. – Olukord Jeemenis on katastroofiline. Toiduabi vajab 20,7 miljonit inimest, neist 7 miljonit on silmitsi hädaolukorraga, 2,2 miljonit last kannatab akuutse alatoitumise all ja iga kümne minuti tagant sureb üks laps põhjustel, mida oleks võimalik ennetada. 2015 aastast alates on surma saanud üle 8000 inimese, kellest 60% on tsiviilisikud. Save the Children andmetel sureb Jeemenis iga päev 130 last, miljonitel lastel pole võimalik koolis käia. Riigis on puhkenud kooleraepideemia, humanitaarkatastroof jätkub õhu- ja mereblokaadi tõttu. Need on kõhedakstegevad numbrid. On äärmiselt oluline saavutada viivitamatult ligipääs humanitaarabi andmiseks. Püüdlused poliitilise kokkuleppe saavutamiseks peavad jätkuma, ÜRO juhtroll selles on oluline, nii nagu ka ELi toetus sellele. Samuti on oluline, et sõjakuritegude toimepanijad toodaks Rahvusvahelise Kriminaalkohtu ette.