Brussels, 06/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Commission adopted a new extreme urgency procedure that will enable it, as of 13 June, to answer nearly immediately to emergence of new humanitarian disasters, be they new conflicts or natural disasters.
Until now, the Commission will not have a true response capability. It only being able to mobilise its aid, at best, within 15 days. In the framework of the provision adopted on 6 June, it will be able to take financing decision and to mobilise the necessary funds within 25 to 48 hours in order to support the arrival and deployment of the primary care. These decisions will cover immediate and initial financing of a maximum EUR 3 million per crisis, for a duration of a maximum three months, granted to recognised humanitarian organisation and capable of intervening on the operational theatre at short notice. The emergency aid will permit to answer the immediate humanitarian needs. The adoption of the initial emergence procedure also lead the Commission to review the existing procedures in terms of humanitarian aid, in order to ensure the coherence of its action.