Europe and its key actors in the Yemeni crisis; from normativism to pragmatism

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Expert of EU foreign policy

10.29252/piaj.2021.214657.0

Abstract

The contradictory policy of the European Union and European countries towards the crisis in Yemen has raised many questions regarding the principle guide of the EU's foreign policy as well as the European approach to conflict resolution. The rhetoric of the Union (and European governments) on playing a mediating role on the one hand and the pursuit of pragmatic trade and economic interests on the other hand, has made the recognition of this principle more complex. In this regard, the present article examines the policy of the Union (and the governments) by using the theoretical literature presented in EU global strategy and by emphasizing the two concepts of "resilience" and "principled pragmatism" in this document. Accordingly, an examination of the documents and policies implemented, as well as a reference to the available statistics, shows the weak role of European norms and values in the EU policy towards Yemen and the dominance of the pragmatic element in this policy. Given Iran's role and importance in resolving the Yemeni crisis, Europe has sought to use Iranian leverage to influence the Houthis. Thus, although Europe's approach to the Yemeni crisis is fragmented, secondary, and in many cases at odds with Iran's regional policies, but there are several opportunities for Iran to resolve the Yemeni crisis in cooperation with Europe, which are addressed in this article

Keywords

References

 
Ahmed A. Saif (2015), YEMEN IN CRISIS: WHAT ROLE FOR THE EU? European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Bianco, Cinzia (2020), A GULF APART: HOW EUROPE CAN GAIN INFLUENCE WITH THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL, Brussels: ECFR.
Council of the EU,Council conclusions on Yemen,6179/19, 18 February 2019.
Dudouet et Al (2020), From Policy to action: Assessing the European Union's Approach to Inclusive Mediation and Dialogue support in Georgia and Yemen, Conflict resolution Research program, Berlin: Berghof Foundation.
Day, Stephen and Noel Brehony (2020), Global, regional and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Durac, V. (2010). The European Union in Yemen: The Triumph of Pragmatism over Normativity? European Foreign Affairs Review, 15(5), 645–661.
Fact Sheets on the European Union - GULF COUNTRIES, IRAN, IRAQ AND YEMEN, European parliament, 2020.
Giusti, Serena (2020), the European Union Global Strategy and the EU's Maieutic Role, Journal of Common Market Studies: 1-17.
Gurol, Julia (2020), The Role of the EU and China in the Security Architecture of the Middle East, Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies:1-18.
Joost, Hiltermann (2019), Why the EU Should Care About Yemen, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP.
Juncos, Anna (2017). Resilience as the new EU foreign policy paradigm: a pragmatist turn? Journal of European Security: 1-19.
Lackner, H. (2017). Yemen in Crisis: Autocracy, Neo-Liberalism and the Disintegration of a State. London: Saqi.
Laurent Bonnefoy (2020), The European Union’s Role in the Yemen Crisis, in S. W. Day, N. Brehony (eds.), Global, Regional, and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis, Palgrave Macmillan.
Maletta, G. (2019) Legal Challenges to EU Member States’ Arms Exports toSaudi Arabia: Current Status and Potential Implications, Stockholm: International Peace Research Institute Backgrounders.
al-Muslimi, F., & al-Akhali, R. (2018, June 27). La France est la candidate parfait pour mettre fin à la guerre du Yémen. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/ idees/article/2018/06/27/la-france-peut-jouer-un-role-decisif-pour-mettrefin-a-la-guerre-du-yemen_5321764_3232.html
Palik, Julia (2018), The EU's Civil War: Mediation Practices in Yemen: The Case of Competetive Mediator Market, GROTIUS.
Patryk, Pawlak (2015), Yemen: in asecurity vacuum, European Parliamentary Research Service.
Poiret, A. (2019),Mon pays vend des armes, Paris: Arènes.
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful, court of appeal declares, the guardian, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jun/20/uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-for-use-in-yemen-declared-unlawful
Snyder, J. and Vinjamuri, L. (2012), Principled pragmatism and the logic of consequences, International theory: 434–448.
منابع اینترنتی
https://www.mei.edu/publications/stockholm-riyadh-breaking-yemen-peace-process-deadlock
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/53984/EU-Yemen%20relations
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/25/yemen-council-adopts-conclusions/
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/12/14/declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-the-consultations-in-sweden-between-the-representatives-of-the-yemeni-parties-and-the-stockholm-agreement/
http://www.pressclub.be/press-releases/eeas-yemen-statement-by-the-high-representative-josep-borrell-on-the-ceasefire-announcement/
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jun/20/uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-for-use-in-yemen-declared-unlawful
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ahmed A. Saif (2015), YEMEN IN CRISIS: WHAT ROLE FOR THE EU? European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Bianco, Cinzia (2020), A GULF APART: HOW EUROPE CAN GAIN INFLUENCE WITH THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL, Brussels: ECFR.
Council of the EU,Council conclusions on Yemen,6179/19, 18 February 2019.
Dudouet et Al (2020), From Policy to action: Assessing the European Union's Approach to Inclusive Mediation and Dialogue support in Georgia and Yemen, Conflict resolution Research program, Berlin: Berghof Foundation.
Day, Stephen and Noel Brehony (2020), Global, regional and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Durac, V. (2010). The European Union in Yemen: The Triumph of Pragmatism over Normativity? European Foreign Affairs Review, 15(5), 645–661.
Fact Sheets on the European Union - GULF COUNTRIES, IRAN, IRAQ AND YEMEN, European parliament, 2020.
Giusti, Serena (2020), the European Union Global Strategy and the EU's Maieutic Role, Journal of Common Market Studies: 1-17.
Gurol, Julia (2020), The Role of the EU and China in the Security Architecture of the Middle East, Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies:1-18.
Joost, Hiltermann (2019), Why the EU Should Care About Yemen, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP.
Juncos, Anna (2017). Resilience as the new EU foreign policy paradigm: a pragmatist turn? Journal of European Security: 1-19.
Lackner, H. (2017). Yemen in Crisis: Autocracy, Neo-Liberalism and the Disintegration of a State. London: Saqi.
Laurent Bonnefoy (2020), The European Union’s Role in the Yemen Crisis, in S. W. Day, N. Brehony (eds.), Global, Regional, and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis, Palgrave Macmillan.
Maletta, G. (2019) Legal Challenges to EU Member States’ Arms Exports toSaudi Arabia: Current Status and Potential Implications, Stockholm: International Peace Research Institute Backgrounders.
al-Muslimi, F., & al-Akhali, R. (2018, June 27). La France est la candidate parfait pour mettre fin à la guerre du Yémen. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/ idees/article/2018/06/27/la-france-peut-jouer-un-role-decisif-pour-mettrefin-a-la-guerre-du-yemen_5321764_3232.html
Palik, Julia (2018), The EU's Civil War: Mediation Practices in Yemen: The Case of Competetive Mediator Market, GROTIUS.
Patryk, Pawlak (2015), Yemen: in asecurity vacuum, European Parliamentary Research Service.
Poiret, A. (2019),Mon pays vend des armes, Paris: Arènes.
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful, court of appeal declares, the guardian, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jun/20/uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-for-use-in-yemen-declared-unlawful
Snyder, J. and Vinjamuri, L. (2012), Principled pragmatism and the logic of consequences, International theory: 434–448.
منابع اینترنتی
https://www.mei.edu/publications/stockholm-riyadh-breaking-yemen-peace-process-deadlock
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/53984/EU-Yemen%20relations
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/25/yemen-council-adopts-conclusions/
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/12/14/declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-the-consultations-in-sweden-between-the-representatives-of-the-yemeni-parties-and-the-stockholm-agreement/
http://www.pressclub.be/press-releases/eeas-yemen-statement-by-the-high-representative-josep-borrell-on-the-ceasefire-announcement/
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jun/20/uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-for-use-in-yemen-declared-unlawful
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ahmed A. Saif (2015), YEMEN IN CRISIS: WHAT ROLE FOR THE EU? European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Bianco, Cinzia (2020), A GULF APART: HOW EUROPE CAN GAIN INFLUENCE WITH THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL, Brussels: ECFR.
Council of the EU,Council conclusions on Yemen,6179/19, 18 February 2019.
Dudouet et Al (2020), From Policy to action: Assessing the European Union's Approach to Inclusive Mediation and Dialogue support in Georgia and Yemen, Conflict resolution Research program, Berlin: Berghof Foundation.
Day, Stephen and Noel Brehony (2020), Global, regional and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Durac, V. (2010). The European Union in Yemen: The Triumph of Pragmatism over Normativity? European Foreign Affairs Review, 15(5), 645–661.
Fact Sheets on the European Union - GULF COUNTRIES, IRAN, IRAQ AND YEMEN, European parliament, 2020.
Giusti, Serena (2020), the European Union Global Strategy and the EU's Maieutic Role, Journal of Common Market Studies: 1-17.
Gurol, Julia (2020), The Role of the EU and China in the Security Architecture of the Middle East, Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies:1-18.
Joost, Hiltermann (2019), Why the EU Should Care About Yemen, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP.
Juncos, Anna (2017). Resilience as the new EU foreign policy paradigm: a pragmatist turn? Journal of European Security: 1-19.
Lackner, H. (2017). Yemen in Crisis: Autocracy, Neo-Liberalism and the Disintegration of a State. London: Saqi.
Laurent Bonnefoy (2020), The European Union’s Role in the Yemen Crisis, in S. W. Day, N. Brehony (eds.), Global, Regional, and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis, Palgrave Macmillan.
Maletta, G. (2019) Legal Challenges to EU Member States’ Arms Exports toSaudi Arabia: Current Status and Potential Implications, Stockholm: International Peace Research Institute Backgrounders.
al-Muslimi, F., & al-Akhali, R. (2018, June 27). La France est la candidate parfait pour mettre fin à la guerre du Yémen. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/ idees/article/2018/06/27/la-france-peut-jouer-un-role-decisif-pour-mettrefin-a-la-guerre-du-yemen_5321764_3232.html
Palik, Julia (2018), The EU's Civil War: Mediation Practices in Yemen: The Case of Competetive Mediator Market, GROTIUS.
Patryk, Pawlak (2015), Yemen: in asecurity vacuum, European Parliamentary Research Service.
Poiret, A. (2019),Mon pays vend des armes, Paris: Arènes.
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful, court of appeal declares, the guardian, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jun/20/uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-for-use-in-yemen-declared-unlawful
Snyder, J. and Vinjamuri, L. (2012), Principled pragmatism and the logic of consequences, International theory: 434–448.
منابع اینترنتی
https://www.mei.edu/publications/stockholm-riyadh-breaking-yemen-peace-process-deadlock
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/53984/EU-Yemen%20relations
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/25/yemen-council-adopts-conclusions/
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/12/14/declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-the-consultations-in-sweden-between-the-representatives-of-the-yemeni-parties-and-the-stockholm-agreement/
http://www.pressclub.be/press-releases/eeas-yemen-statement-by-the-high-representative-josep-borrell-on-the-ceasefire-announcement/
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/jun/20/uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-for-use-in-yemen-declared-unlawful
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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