/ world today news/ What is the EU doing to release the Bulgarian hostages on the ship “Galaxy Leader” in Yemen? Are you ready to join the negotiations for them? Do you negotiate? Do you have any information on who is holding the second ship – “Rouen”, the Yemeni Houthis or Somali pirates? Elena Yoncheva, an MEP from the Socialists and Democrats, addressed these questions to representatives of the European External Action Service, who participated in a meeting of the SEDE defense subcommittee.
When there are hostage cases, only if the relevant Member State requests assistance, then we can participate. Sometimes countries don’t ask for help from us because they think they have more appropriate means, responded Rosamaria Gilley, deputy managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at the European External Action Service. Her colleague Cosmin Dobran, who is director of the Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management Directorate, said he could not say whether the Rouen was hijacked by the Houthis or by Somalis operating in their territorial waters. “We stand ready to provide support where needed,” he said. Kosmin Dobran promised to make the necessary checks and provide information to Elena Yoncheva.
The captain and co-captain of the ship “Galaxy Leader”, who are Bulgarian citizens, have been held captive by the Houthis in Yemen since the end of November 2023. Another ship with Bulgarians – “Rouen” – disappeared in the area at the same time. he is believed to be held by Somalis. The Houthis have linked their attacks to the Gaza conflict and said they target ships linked to Israel or those that supply goods to Israel. Galaxy Leader is owned by an Israeli businessman. “Rouen” is owned by the Bulgarian company Parakhodstvo BMF and has seven Bulgarians as part of the crew.
The topic of discussion during the SEDE meeting was related to the escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and a possible EU operation there. On January 19, 2024 alone, the Houthis carried out 26 attacks on ships, Kosmin Dobran said. The EU has approved a large-scale operation, but details will be finalized within days, he said. At the suggestion of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, it will be called ASPIDES, which means shield. The operation will provide military action for self-defense – this position protects Josep Borel against Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where he is visiting.
At the same time, the US, Great Britain and 12 EU member states are included in an international coalition that is already operating in the Red Sea – attacking Houthi positions. The participation of the 12 EU countries is at their discretion, they are free to decide how, specified Rosamaria Gili.
Elena Yoncheva asked the representatives of the European Commission to announce what the analyzes of the foreign service show – to what extent the military operations against the Houthis can create an even bigger crisis in Gaza and whether they have a concrete assessment of the economic losses in Europe at this stage of these military operations.
Rosamaria Gilley hailed the fact that on Tuesday EU member states united in calling for an end to hostilities in Gaza, for the protection of civilians and for humanitarian access to them, as a huge success. She explained that the Houthis are not only attacking ships associated with Israel. The economic risks in the region are there – a 40% drop in revenue, Gilly said. And he noted that the ships that want to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb strait after all already have many times higher insurance costs.
In the discussion, it was noted more than once that the EU has a greater economic interest in safe merchant shipping in the region than the US, because nearly 40% of the union’s merchant ships pass through there. At the same time, the danger of regional war is real, according to Rosamaria Gilley.
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