Brussels, 09/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - No sooner said than done. The European regulation creating the Euro ECHO emergency humanitarian aid mechanism to respond rapidly to major humanitarian crises within the European Union received the agreement in principle of the member states' permanent representatives (Coreper) on Wednesday 9 March.
At a time of increasing criticism and questioning from organisations working to help migrants over the proposed agreement between the EU and Turkey, the Council of the EU can be proud of the speed with which it has taken this first step to address the request made two days earlier by heads of state and/or government that the new instrument to increase financial capacities to come to the assistance of migrants unable to leave Greece be adopted before the European Council of 17-18 March (see EUROPE 11507).
The €300 million budget that Euro ECHO will be allocated in 2016 will be used to help Greece meet the pressing humanitarian needs (food, shelter, drinking water, medicines and other basic necessities) of the refugees within its borders.
“This is a very rapid and practical expression of the EU's solidarity with Greece which implements a commitment of the European Council. The Netherlands Presidency will continue to do its utmost to ensure that the General Affairs Council of 15 March adopts the regulation”, said Bert Koenders, Dutch foreign minister and president in office of the Council, in a press release.
On the same day, the European Commission adopted its draft amending budget to be put to the Parliament and the Council jointly, the budgetary authority to finance this instrument from within EU budget and to create a specific budget line (see other article).
It is estimated that Euro ECHO will require €700 over three years (2016-2018) and that it will not be reserved only to Greece, even though assisting that member state is the priority today (see EUROPE 11503). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)