The European Union (EU) is the world’s biggest donor of humanitarian aid, providing more than 50% of humanitarian aid worldwide

Humanitarian aid is aimed at protecting lives and alleviating human suffering in crises resulting from human action and natural disasters. The EU thus supports governments and local actors in emergency operations to:

• Assist, provide relief and protect populations during a crisis or its immediate aftermath;

• Ensure the free movement of aid and access to vulnerable populations.

Humanitarian aid is based on the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The EU also complies with the principles of international law, in particular by adopting guidelines on the promotion of international humanitarian law. Moreover, while modalities for action may vary between member states, European donors comply with the principles and good practices for humanitarian aid, particularly in the context of the international initiative ‘Good Humanitarian Donorship’. The Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative is an informal donor forum and network which facilitates collective advancement of humanitarian principles and good practices. It recognises that, by working together, donors can more effectively encourage and stimulate principled donor behaviour and, by extension, improved humanitarian action. Humanitarian aid must be coordinated with other policies so that it can be adapted to each situation and can contribute to long-term development goals. Humanitarian action must comply with the principle of gender equality and take into account the diverse needs of populations.

There is a European framework to deliver humanitarian aid that states that all aid operations must be conducted through:

• Coordination, coherency and complementarity between the actors involved, to share information and expertise, intervention strategies and assessment, including at international level coordinated by the United Nations;

• Appropriate and effective interventions according to situations, needs and the degree of vulnerability of populations;

• Quality, effectiveness and public responsibility applied by those providing funding;

• Rapid response capacity, mainly through the assessment of existing capacity, such as logistics, transport and communications, and by means of coordination with the actors involved.

The EU contributes to developing collective global capacity to respond to crises. It commits to promoting reforms in the international humanitarian system, led by the United Nations, and in cooperation with other humanitarian actors and donors. In addition, in view of the escalating need for humanitarian aid, it is essential to increase and to diversify financing and its predictability, flexibility and strategic coordination.

The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) was created in 1992 as an expression of the European solidarity with people in need all around the world. In 2004, it became the Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid before integrating Civil Protection in 2010 for a better coordination and disaster response inside and outside Europe. In 2010, Kristalina Georgieva was appointed as the first dedicated Commissioner for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response.

Since its creation 20 years ago, ECHO has helped millions of victims of crises in more than 140 countries hit by natural disasters and man-made crises. It has provided emergency assistance and relief to the most vulnerable people in the most dangerous conflicts and disaster-prone regions

The EU’s humanitarian assistance is based on the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. Every decision ECHO takes, must be in accordance with these four principles which are at the heart of the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid. The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid is a joint statement signed in December 2007 by the three European institutions (Council, Parliament and Commission). The Consensus sets out the values, guiding principles and policy scope of EU humanitarian aid, and strengthens the EU’s capacity to help people suffering in crisis zones across the globe. As such, ECHO’s humanitarian aid is distributed without regard for any political agendas, and without exception seeks to help those in the greatest need, irrespective of their nationality, religion, gender, ethnic origin or political affiliation.

When disaster strikes, help needs to arrive fast to meet the basic needs of the victims and to preserve their dignity. Helping the world’s most vulnerable populations in crises is a moral imperative for the international community and can make the difference between life and death.

Today, ECHO has more than 300 people working in its headquarters in Brussels and more than 400 in 44 field offices located in 38 countries around the world. Immediately following a disaster, they go to the country or region in need of help to carry out needs assessments and to monitor the implementation of the EU-funded humanitarian projects. This needs-based approach is a key characteristic of ECHO aid.

In 2011, ECHO distributed humanitarian aid worth €1.1 billion. While this figure represents less than 1% of the EU’s total budget, it provided assistance to nearly 150 million of the world’s most vulnerable people in over 80 countries outside the EU.

Mauro Miceli – Executive,

EU Policy & Legislation, Meusac