The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate (see EUROPE 13562/13), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the suspension of US development and humanitarian aid were discussed at the European Parliament on Wednesday 12 February.
The European Commissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, expressed her concern to MEPs about these decisions. She called for international cooperation to combat global problems. “The Paris Agreement remains the best existing framework for cooperative action against climate change”, she declared.
Hadja Lahbib felt that US President Donald Trump’s approach “will not serve the long-term interests of the United States and risks worsening the humanitarian crisis and increasing poverty rates, while also reinforcing instability”, and gave assurances that the EU “will not renege on its humanitarian and development commitments”.
She also expressed concerns about the US withdrawal from the WHO, citing the need for collective action in the face of pandemics.
Michał Szczerba (EPP, Polish) said that a dialogue based on mutual understanding was needed to move forward. He also expressed the hope of convincing the USA to return to joint projects within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.
Dutch MEP Mohammed Chahim (S&D) denounced the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, saying that by doing so, they were allowing China to gain the upper hand in sustainable technologies. “The United States is in a position to be a pioneer in the green economy, but Trump will make sure that America doesn’t get there”, he said.
Lastly, Michael Bloss (Greens/EFA, German) warned against inconsistencies in the implementation of the EU’s climate objectives, emphasising the fact that the EU must respect its commitments and that “polluters must pay”.
Development aid. “The decision to suspend USAID matches the vandalism of public policy that has marked the start of the Trump administration and is applauded by autocrats around the world”, railed Barry Andrews (Renew Europe, Irish), chair of the European Parliament Development Committee, when particularly discussing the suspension of US foreign aid (see EUROPE 13562/21).
“Afghan women, Ukrainian soldiers and starving populations in the DRC, Sudan and Yemen will suffer the consequences. But before we start preaching, let’s not forget that the EU’s development policy is moving in a similar direction, albeit without the scorched earth approach”, he said, calling on the European Commission to reaffirm the EU’s solidarity with its developing country partners.
“For the time being, the silence has been deafening”, said Mr Andrews.
On the right of the Chamber, Michał Szczerba (EPP, Polish) stressed the importance of the EU as a trading and investment partner throughout the world, while on the left, Italian doctor Ignazio Marino (Greens/EFA) called on the EU to “strengthen its role in promoting international cooperation”. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit and Nithya Paquiry)