The EU’s collective and coordinated response to the growing number of large-scale humanitarian crises in the world caused by natural and man-made disasters will be the link between the outgoing Czech Presidency and the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council, which begins on 1 January.
The incoming Swedish Presidency has already indicated in its work programme that it intends to be an “important platform to promote the EU’s leading role in global humanitarian contexts”.
As a final contribution to this shared ambition (see EUROPE 13072/15), the Czech Presidency underlines, in a background note dated 16 December, the strategic importance of ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ in a context of increasing global fragility.
The paper, addressed primarily to the EU Council Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA), cites as examples “the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, the Sahel, Syria and the current global food and energy crises”.
In particular, it suggests further implementation of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and coordinated initiatives between the EU, its Member States and its financial institutions, delivering ‘common messages’ and promoting respect for international humanitarian law.
Also mentioned is the strengthening of the EU’s contribution in international fora such as the European Humanitarian Forum - the second of its kind will take place under the Swedish Presidency -, international donor conferences and the UN General Assembly, which in 2022 organised an event on the role of humanitarian diplomacy in anticipating and preventing food crises.
A European Commission recommendation on EU disaster resilience goals in partner countries is scheduled for January.
See the Czech Presidency’s note: https://aeur.eu/f/4r2
See the future Swedish Presidency’s programme: https://aeur.eu/f/4p5 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)