Brussels, 11/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - As a sign of solidarity with Greece, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides was in Athens on Friday 11 March for discussions with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the operation of EURO ECHO, the new emergency humanitarian aid instrument designed to support EU member states struggling to cope with a massive humanitarian crisis.
Greece, whose reception capacities have been overwhelmed, will be the first to receive assistance - €300 million this year, out of a €700 million budget planned for 2016-2018. In the wake of the green light given by the member states to the draft regulation setting up EURO ECHO, Commissioner Stylianides restated the Commission's solidarity with Greece in addressing the pressing humanitarian needs of the refugees stranded in the country, working in partnership with United Nations humanitarian agencies and other humanitarian partners (see EUROPE 11508).
“The generosity of the Greek people towards the refugees is an example to us all”, tweeted the commissioner - a generosity which stands in stark contrast with the nervous retreat of a number of member states into their shells which meant the EU had to turn to a draft agreement, already derided by the UN and several MEPs, with Turkey on the migrants.
The Commission was delighted on Tuesday with the speed with which the member state representatives approved the creation of EURO ECHO, after it was proposed on 2 March. Formal adoption is scheduled for the General Affairs Council in Brussels on Tuesday 15 March. On Monday 14 March, MEPs from the Parliament's development committee will discuss the new rapid response instrument to major humanitarian crises in the EU. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)