Brussels, 27/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 26 October, the EU's development ministers said that if ever there was need for it, the unprecedented migrant crisis illustrates how useful the world humanitarian summit (in Istanbul on 22-24 May) will be for reforming the world humanitarian system in order to adapt it to the new challenges.
During an exchange of views in preparation for this summit, the ministers supported the two big priorities identified by the European Commission for the reform to be conducted - the effectiveness of the aid and the respect for humanitarian principles.
European Commission Vice-President for Budget and Humanitarian Aid Kristalina Georgieva (who was previously commissioner for international cooperation and humanitarian aid) presented ministers with the results of the consultations conducted by the United Nations as part of the high level group on humanitarian financing created in May 2015 by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. She stated that despite the constant growth in humanitarian aid, the gap was widening between the humanitarian needs and the means mobilised, as there are so many humanitarian crises in the world. The multiplicity and increased frequency of conflicts and large-scale natural disasters have meant the biggest displacements of people since the Second World War.
The Commission's communication - “Towards the World Humanitarian Summit: A global partnership for principled and effective humanitarian action” - on the preparations for the Istanbul summit sets out the two big priorities of the EU for Istanbul as being the respect of humanitarian principles and the effectiveness of aid (see EUROPE 11380). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)