The European Union confirmed, on Thursday, its rejection of the idea of imposing fees for crossing the Strait of Hormuz, calling for the preservation of freedom of navigation in this waterway. Anwar Ennour, the spokesperson for the bloc, explained that "international law enshrines freedom of navigation, which means no payments or fees of any kind." He reminded that "the Strait of Hormuz is, like all other maritime routes, a public good for all humanity... which means that navigation in it should be free." Earlier in the day, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had considered, in statements made to France Inter radio, that imposing fees on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz "is unacceptable," stressing that it is a violation of international law. Barrot stated, "No, this is not acceptable, because freedom of navigation in international waters is a general right, a human right that cannot be restricted by any obstacle or fee." After the military escalation in the region on February 28, Iran disrupted movement in the Strait of Hormuz, which negatively impacted global supplies of oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizers.