Council conclusions on Yemen
FOREIG AFFAIRS Council meeting
Luxembourg, 21 October 2013
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
“1. The European Union salutes the progress accomplished to date by the National Dialogue
Conference (NDC). It commends the role played by the transitional Government of Yemen,
under the leadership of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, in ensuring that such a
challenging process could take place. The EU now urges the Delegates to use the recently
opened 3rd plenary session to finalise their work. Agreement on the outstanding issues must
be followed by formal adoption and genuine implementation of the NDC’s recommendations.
The conclusion of the work of the NDC will mark an essential step in Yemen’s transition
process.
2. In line with the Council conclusions of 24 June 2013, the EU reiterates the importance of
moving forward with determination in a peaceful, orderly and inclusive transition process that
will allow for a constitutional referendum followed by general elections according to the GCC
Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism. It also reaffirms its readiness to support
inclusive, credible and transparent elections in Yemen. The EU calls on all parties to approach
the challenges ahead and address the critical remaining issues, in particular regarding the
future model of the State, in a spirit of pragmatism and compromise. The EU also reiterates its
concern about acts aimed at undermining, obstructing or derailing the transition process.
3. At the same time the EU encourages the Yemeni authorities to swiftly implement the agreed
confidence building measures on southern issues, as outlined in the 20 points recommended
by the NDC’s preparatory technical committee and the 11 points approved by the NDC, so as
to build, among all Yemen’s citizens, trust in the positive outcome of the transition process.
4. The EU further calls on the Government of Yemen to undertake urgently needed reforms,
such as curtailing public sector corruption, improving the management of the public
administration (in particular by removing “ghost workers” from the civil and security
services), taking steps towards a gradual subsidy reform in a spirit of social cohesion, and
implementing the Youth Employment Action Plan. The EU also calls on the Government of
Yemen rapidly to conclude an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Without
these steps economic recovery and improvement of Yemen’s dire humanitarian situation will
not be possible.
5. The EU expresses its concern about the fragile security situation in Yemen and the increase in
attacks. The EU strongly condemns the attack in Sana’a on 6 October during which a member
of the German Embassy staff was killed. The EU calls on the Yemeni authorities to do their
utmost to investigate this and previous incidents and to improve the security in Sana’a and in
the whole of the country. The EU is also deeply concerned about the increasing number of
kidnappings in Yemen, including to elicit ransom payments to strengthen terrorist groups.
Security is an essential element in Yemen’s successful transition.
6. In this regard, the EU will continue to support the efforts of the Yemeni government to
improve the security situation. The EU reaffirms its commitment to stand by the Yemeni
authorities and people in their endeavour to secure a better future for their country.”