The European Union Monday reaffirmed its full support for a peaceful and orderly transition process in Yemen, ahead of the Friends of Yemen Ministerial meeting on May 23 in Riyadh.

"On that occasion, three months after the Yemeni people elected President Hadi, the EU will, along with the international community, express its support to the process of comprehensive reform and renewal on which the Yemeni government and Yemen's transitional institutions have now embarked," said a statement issued by the EU Foreign Affairs Council which is meeting here today.

"The EU welcomes the efforts of President Hadi to implement the provisions of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and implementation mechanism. The EU encourages the President to rapidly take forward the national dialogue," said the Council.

However, the EU foreign ministers expressed "deep concern by all attempts to derail Yemen's transition." They called on all parties to abide by the undertakings set out in the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and implementation mechanism, in good faith.

"President Hadi has demonstrated his determination to implement the initiative," stressed the Council.

The EU statement recalled United Nations Security Council Resolution 2014, which calls on all parties in Yemen to commit to a political settlement based on the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and implementation mechanism.

The EU also expressed alarmed by "the serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation. In particular food insecurity, notably for women and children."