Brussels, 07/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Michèle Striffler (EPP, France), Gauche Moderne elected representative, has been appointed as permanent rapporteur for humanitarian aid at the European Parliament for two and a half years. Her appointment came on Tuesday 6 October within the EP development committee chaired by Eva Joly (Greens/EFA, France). In her new capacity, Ms Striffler will be the European Parliament's focal point for contact with humanitarian actors such as ECHO (the EU's Humanitarian Aid Office), NGOs and EU member states. She will have the task of overseeing the execution of all financial aid programmes and of defending the interests of humanitarian aid beneficiaries during adoption of the Community budget. She will also take part in all EP delegations or missions of a humanitarian nature, and each year will present an evaluation of her progress. This report will be debated in plenary session. (A.N./transl.jl)