(1)

On 10 January 2024, the United Nations Security Council adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2722 (2024), condemning in the strongest terms the Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels, underscoring the importance of the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms of vessels of all States in the Red Sea, including for merchant and commercial vessels transiting the Baab al-Mandab Strait, in accordance with international law, demanding that the Houthis immediately cease all such attacks, affirming that the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels, in accordance with international law, must be respected, and taking note of the right of United Nations Member States, in accordance with international law, to defend their vessels from attacks, including attacks that undermine navigational rights and freedoms.

(2)

On 8 February 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/583 (1) establishing a European Union maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES).

(3)

On 19 February 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/632 (2), which launched EUNAVFOR ASPIDES with a mandate until 18 February 2025.

(4)

On 17 October 2024, the European Council, when reiterating its call on the Houthis to stop immediately all attacks and to allow maritime security to be restored, underlined the crucial contribution of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES in promoting maritime security and freedom of navigation.

(5)

On 28 November 2024, in the context of the Strategic Review of the operation, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) recommended that EUNAVFOR ASPIDES be extended until 28 February 2026.

(6)

On 21 January 2025, the PSC furthermore agreed that, in order to ensure maritime situational awareness in the Area of Operation, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES should collect information, in addition to data necessary to protect vessels, on arms trafficking and on shadow fleets with a view to sharing that information with Member States, the Commission, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), as appropriate.

(7)

On 15 January 2025, the United Nations Security Council adopted UNSCR 2768 (2025), recalling, in particular, the importance of maritime security and recognising that the maintenance of maritime security in the region of the Red Sea is essential for the stability of global supply chains and economic development. The United Nations Security Council reiterated its demand that the Houthis immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels.

(8)

Decision (CFSP) 2024/583 should be amended accordingly,

(1)

in Article 1, the following paragraph is added:

(2)

in Article 6, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

(3)

in Article 9, the following paragraph is added:

(4)

Article 10 is amended as follows:

(5)

Article 11 is amended as follows: