20 Feb 2012, 17:23
EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva provided a valuable contribution to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on the key humanitarian priorities for the EU over the coming years.
At its meeting today, members of the committee discussed the chief humanitarian concerns for the EU with the Commissioner. Taken collectively, the EU is the world’s largest humanitarian donor and accounts for around 40% of global humanitarian aid.
Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “We would like to thank Commissioner Georgieva for a clear, thought-provoking and insightful statement on the EU’s role in international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response. The Commissioner outlined in some detail the extent of the EU’s humanitarian aid programme and its area of operations.
Commissioner Georgieva also said she looked forward to the feasibility study on the possible development of a humanitarian aid hub at Shannon, adding that in a time of increasing fragility around the world, there was always a need for more humanitarian capabilities. The Committee heard how anticipating crises, moving quickly and targeting the most vulnerable not only saved lives and avoided the preventable misery of hunger and malnutrition, but provided for a more efficient and valuable humanitarian response at a much lower cost.
Our meeting also provided us with an opportunity to consider the current crises in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and South Sudan and the response by the EU and Ireland to the humanitarian needs in these areas. Commissioner Georgieva provided a valuable contribution to our understanding of the EU’s role in responding to crises, as well as outlining key priorities in the coming years. This is particularly important given Ireland's Presidency of the European Union from January to June 2013 when we will be expected to lead discussions within the EU on humanitarian issues and Irish officials will chair the Council’s Working Group on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid.”
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.