Saudi Arabia has been accused of war crimes during its military operations in Yemen, and refuses to launch an inquiry into the loss of civilian lives there. In addition, Saudi Arabia has beheaded more than 150 people this year alone, and continues to finance preachers, mosques and madrassas around the world, including in Europe, thereby exporting ultraconservative views that provide fertile ground for radicalisation in Europe and abroad. In this context, the continued selling of weapons to Saudi Arabia violates Criteria 2, 4 and 6 of Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008. European Member States continue to ignore the code of conduct.

1. Is the Vice-President/High Representative planning to launch an initiative aimed at instituting a European arms embargo against Saudi Arabia? If not, why not?

2. Given that donors from Saudi Arabia constitute a significant source of funding for Sunni terrorist groups worldwide, what is the VP/HR's assessment of the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 2161 and 2199 by Saudi Arabia with a view to ensuring that no funds are made available by its nationals or by individuals within its territory for the benefit of ISIL, Al-Qaeda and affiliated groups?