On Tuesday 2 December, the European Parliament’s Committee on Development (DEVE) approved a draft report on the need for a more effective and ambitious response from the European Union to humanitarian crises, with 16 votes in favour, 2 against and 3 abstentions.
Eight compromise amendments, drawn up jointly by the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA Groups (seven of which were tabled by The Left), broadened the scope of the text submitted by Leire Pajín (S&D, Spanish) and made it more politically ambitious.
The compromises adopted incorporate new data on the scale of global humanitarian needs, the increase in violations of international humanitarian law and the difficulties of accessing aid. They also highlight the impact of budget cuts by some major donors, the rise of forgotten crises and the disproportionate effects of conflict on women, children and vulnerable people.
MEPs also strengthened the language on developing an EU humanitarian diplomacy strategy. In particular, they call on the European Commission and EU Member States to “strengthen action to prevent international humanitarian law violations and to address gaps in monitoring of such violations through impartial and independent data collection and more effective, evidence-based advocacy to hold perpetrators accountable”.
The DEVE Committee also stresses the need to ensure an “adequate, predictable and sustainable” level of humanitarian funding in the EU’s 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. It is also opposed to merging the EU’s humanitarian instrument with the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe).
Despite “some differences” between Parliament’s political groups at the start of the negotiations, “the tone remained constructive throughout the process and there was a willingness to find common ground, including on the humanitarian situation in Gaza”, Ms Pajín told Agence Europe on Tuesday.
The text will be put to the vote at Parliament plenary session in mid-December. Ms Pajín expressed her confidence in the outcome of the vote, highlighting the work carried out in committee to “put forward a position of Parliament that is strong, principled, and equips the Member States and the Commission”.
See the compromise amendments adopted: https://aeur.eu/f/jss (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)