Brussels, 09/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European “Consensus on Humanitarian Aid” is receiving a facelift. Since the end of 2007, this interinstitutional agreement (Council/Parliament/Commission) has provided a framework for greater efficiency in EU humanitarian policy. It is now to be reviewed. Arrangements for the review were approved on Wednesday 8 December by the European Commission on the basis of a report assessing progress made, which concluded by saying that European humanitarian aid had become more effective but that there was scope for further improvement.
The assessment reveals that, over the past three years, the EU has endeavoured to its best ability to meet growing humanitarian needs due to natural disasters. There is a growing number of such disasters, of ever greater severity, based on an upsurge in violence. It is, however, also necessary to better coordinate EU efforts, especially between member states and the Commission, said Kristalina Georgieva, Humanitarian Aid Commissioner. The recent proposal aimed at creating a European Emergency Response Centre in due course to bolster the EU's rapid response capability (see EUROPE 10244) is along the same lines. The Commission, however, also recommends that a greater effort be made to ensure long-term donor commitment, and strengthen the use of limited resources in these times of budgetary constraint in order to ensure there is adequate funding to meet the growing humanitarian needs.
Parliament's wishes. Michèle Striffler (EPP, France), who is permanent rapporteur for humanitarian aid at the European Parliament, welcomes the fact that her report on implementing the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid had been unanimously adopted on Thursday 9 December by the EP development committee.
“We call on the Commission to allocate additional funds to promoting international humanitarian law on the ground, and also draw attention to the many incidents of sexual violence used as weapons of war”, Striffler stressed. The development committee also underlines the need to make a very clear distinction between the respective mandates of military and humanitarian players. She reiterates the need to create a European civil protection force and therefore calls on the Commission to present legislative proposals to this effect. MEPs also stress the importance of systematically integrating the reduction of disaster risk and disaster preparedness in development aid and humanitarian aid policies. (A.N./transl.jl)