Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos presented the priorities of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the humanitarian sector to the European Parliament’s Development Committee (DEVE) on Tuesday, 21 January 2014.

Mr Gerontopoulos referred to the increase in humanitarian needs and the reduction in available funding during this period of economic austerity, which, however, is not hindering the EU from being intensely active in the provision of relief to the most vulnerable populations in the world, as attested to by the four thematic units of the priorities. Specifically, the Hellenic Presidency will promote the Regulation on the EU Aid Volunteers initiative, the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, and the Action plan for strengthening the resilience of countries vulnerable to humanitarian crises. The 2nd unit includes Humanitarian Crises, with the immediate priority being Syria, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and a number of “forgotten crises.” The 3rd unit concerns Practical and Functional Challenges in the sector of Humanitarian Aid, and the 4th unit includes enhancing the Humanitarian System.

Responding to relevant questions from MEPs, Mr Gerontopoulos noted the increasing share of the EU budget earmarked for the funding of humanitarian aid, the Presidency’s initiatives aimed at ensuring the security of volunteers and personnel working to provide humanitarian aid, and the EU’s efforts toward unhindered access to humanitarian aid. He made special mention of the case of Syria and the significant funding of development and humanitarian programmes by the EU, which came to € 2.6 billion.