Pressure to designate Houthis as terrorists... EU member states' opposition stalls agreement

Saudi Arabia is pressing the European Union to designate Yemen's Houthi movement as a terrorist organization, but no EU-wide listing has been agreed, Reuters reported, citing six European officials. The push has stalled because several of the EU's 27 member states worry that a designation could complicate future peace talks in Yemen, and one official said only a minority currently back the move. Any EU designation—and any later removal—requires unanimous consent from all member states, raising the bar for agreement. The Saudi government did not respond to a request for comment, while EU foreign policy spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said Brussels discusses regional issues with Riyadh regularly but declined to comment on the specific listing talks. The standoff matters because a formal EU terrorist label would sharpen pressure on the Houthis but could also constrain diplomacy with a group central to any Yemen settlement. Watch for whether Riyadh can convert enough skeptical member states before unanimity is tested.