BETA


2021/2163(INI) New orientations for the EU’s humanitarian action

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead DEVE NEUSER Norbert (icon: S&D S&D) OCHOJSKA Janina (icon: EPP EPP), ANDREWS Barry (icon: Renew Renew), ROOSE Caroline (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), BILDE Dominique (icon: ID ID), KEMPA Beata (icon: ECR ECR), URBÁN CRESPO Miguel (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2022/04/28
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2021/12/15
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2021/12/15
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 551 votes to 63, with 83 abstentions, a resolution on new orientations for the EU’s humanitarian action.

Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, with 238 million people in need of assistance in 2021 , mainly due to conflict, but also to systemic factors such as climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, global population growth, food insecurity, limited water resources and failed governance. The COVID-19 outbreak has further exacerbated the global humanitarian crisis.

Addressing growing needs and reducing the funding gap

Parliament welcomed the Commission's communication on EU humanitarian action and called for the rapid implementation of these proposals in close consultation and cooperation with humanitarian partners to ensure that aid is predictable, not fragmented and does not duplicate other actions.

Members consider that EU humanitarian aid should always be provided solely on the basis of well-defined and pre-assessed needs , fully in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and pay particular attention to the difficulties faced by vulnerable groups. The Commission is invited to place the principle of ‘ no one left behind ’ at the heart of the new approach to humanitarian action.

Concerned about the sharp increase in the humanitarian funding gap, Parliament called on the Commission to provide a robust annual budget for EU humanitarian aid and maintain a ring-fenced envelope within the solidarity and emergency aid reserve for humanitarian crises outside the EU. Members called for an increase in funds for humanitarian aid and urged Member States to set an example and allocate a fixed share of their gross national income to humanitarian aid

The Commission and the European External Action Service are asked to develop a long-term strategy for working with third countries , in particular emerging donors, to increase the number of donor countries contributing to humanitarian aid on a voluntary basis. Members called for the establishment of an EU coordination mechanism to ensure a coherent EU approach to international humanitarian law. They also highlighted the potential for blended funding initiatives further involving the private sector in EU humanitarian aid.

The resolution also called on the Commission and the Member States to: (i) closely monitor violations of international humanitarian law and include violations of international humanitarian law as a criterion for listing individuals or entities under the relevant EU sanctions regimes and (ii) prosecute and sanction those who use starvation as a weapon of war in order to combat widespread violations of the right to food during conflicts.

Supporting a more enabling environment for humanitarian aid

Stressing the importance of supporting local actors, Members urged the Commission to develop an ambitious localisation policy (especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic) that promotes transparency, making use of partners’ expertise and experience, and outlining how to provide more and better support for local respondents to strengthen their capacities, enable them to make use of all the instruments available and ensure their involvement in decision-making processes.

Taking into account the specific aid and protection needs of disaster-affected populations, the resolution called on the Commission to provide the necessary resources for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through, inter alia, the Neighbourhood Instrument, development cooperation and international cooperation, in the framework of an approach based on the triple nexus of humanitarian aid, development and peace involving indigenous peoples and local communities.

The Commission and the European External Action Service are invited to adopt a communication developing a clear policy on a humanitarian-development-peace nexus in order to address the root causes of fragility and conflict, drawing in particular on the practical experience of non-governmental organisations.

Members called for more concrete gender mainstreaming in future humanitarian action while advocating for free access to free public health services. They called on the EU to implement the Nansen Initiative programme on cross-border displaced persons in the context of disasters and climate change and to place particular emphasis on food as a basic right for all.

Lastly, Parliament insisted that the first European Humanitarian Forum in January 2022 should be inclusive and accessible, involve humanitarian implementing partners and seek to increase the visibility of EU humanitarian aid.

Documents
2021/12/14
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2021/11/19
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Development adopted an own-initiative report by Norbert NEUSER (S&D, DE) on new orientations for the EU’s humanitarian action.

Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, with 238 million people in need of assistance in 2021 , mainly due to conflict, but also to systemic factors such as climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, global population growth, food insecurity, limited water resources and failed governance. The COVID-19 outbreak has further exacerbated the global humanitarian crisis.

The report sets out how the EU and its Member States can respond to the challenge, working with their various humanitarian partners and other donors. It proposes a series of initiatives grouped into two main areas:

Addressing the growing needs and reducing the funding gap

While welcoming the Commission's communication on EU humanitarian action, Members recalled that EU humanitarian aid must always be provided solely on the basis of well-defined and pre-assessed needs, fully in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence , and pay particular attention to the difficulties faced by vulnerable groups. They welcomed the Commission's initiative of integrating education in emergencies.

Concerned about the sharp increase in the humanitarian funding gap, Members called on the Commission to provide a robust annual budget for EU humanitarian aid to ensure timely, predictable and flexible funding for humanitarian aid from the start of each financial year, and to keep a ring-fenced envelope within the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve for humanitarian crises outside the EU. Member States are urged to lead by example and allocate a fixed share of their gross national incomes to humanitarian aid.

The Commission and the European External Action Service are asked to develop a long-term strategy for working with third countries , in particular emerging donors, to increase the number of donor countries contributing to humanitarian aid on a voluntary basis. Members called for the establishment of an EU coordination mechanism to ensure a coherent EU approach to international humanitarian law.

The report also called on the Commission and the Member States to: (i) closely monitor violations of international humanitarian law and include violations of international humanitarian law as a criterion for listing individuals or entities under the relevant EU sanctions regimes and (ii) prosecute and sanction those who use starvation as a weapon of war in order to combat widespread violations of the right to food during conflicts.

Supporting a more enabling environment for humanitarian aid

Members stressed the importance of supporting local actors and urged the Commission to develop an ambitious localisation policy (especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic) that promotes transparency, making use of partners’ expertise and experience, and outlining how to provide more and better support for local respondents to strengthen their capacities, enable them to make use of all the instruments available and ensure their involvement in decision-making processes.

The report highlighted the challenges posed by climate change and called on the Commission to provide the necessary resources for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through, inter alia , the Neighbourhood Instrument, development cooperation and international cooperation, in the framework of an approach based on the triple nexus of humanitarian aid, development and peace involving indigenous peoples and local communities.

The Commission and the European External Action Service are invited to adopt a communication developing a clear policy on a humanitarian-development-peace nexus in order to address the root causes of fragility and conflict, drawing in particular on the practical experience of non-governmental organisations.

Members called for more concrete gender mainstreaming in future humanitarian action. They called on the EU to implement the Nansen Initiative programme on cross-border displaced persons in the context of disasters and climate change and to place particular emphasis on food as a basic right for all.

Lastly, Members insisted that the first European Humanitarian Forum in January 2022 should be inclusive and accessible, involve humanitarian implementing partners and seek to increase the visibility of EU humanitarian aid.

Documents
2021/11/09
   EP - Vote in committee
2021/10/07
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2021/10/07
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2021/09/10
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2021/05/26
   EP - NEUSER Norbert (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in DEVE

Documents

Activities

Votes

Nouvelles orientations pour l'action humanitaire de l'Union - New orientations for the EU’s humanitarian action - Neue Leitlinien für die humanitären Maßnahmen der EU - A9-0328/2021 - Norbert Neuser - Proposition de résolution (ensemble du texte) #

2021/12/15 Outcome: +: 551, 0: 83, -: 63
DE ES IT RO PL HU NL PT FR CZ BG SE EL AT IE DK BE SK HR LT FI SI LV MT CY LU EE
Total
91
58
75
33
52
21
28
21
79
21
17
21
21
19
13
14
21
14
12
11
14
8
8
6
6
6
7
icon: PPE PPE
176

Hungary PPE

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Malta PPE

2
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
143

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
100

Italy Renew

3

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

2
3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
71

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
38

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Portugal The Left

4

Czechia The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Belgium The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Cyprus The Left

2
icon: NI NI
36

Germany NI

2

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania NI

1
icon: ECR ECR
64

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Romania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Abstain (1)

5

Bulgaria ECR

2
3

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: ID ID
69

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Austria ID

3

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
155 2021/2163(INI)
2021/10/11 DEVE 155 amendments...
source: 697.853

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/2
date
2022-04-28T00:00:00
docs
url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=57502&j=0&l=en title: SP(2022)89
type
Commission response to text adopted in plenary
body
EC
docs/2
date
2021-12-15T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0505_EN.html title: T9-0505/2021
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/4
date
2021-12-15T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0505_EN.html title: T9-0505/2021
events/4
date
2021-12-15T00:00:00
type
Results of vote in Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=57502&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
events/5
date
2021-12-15T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0505_EN.html title: T9-0505/2021
events/5/summary
  • The European Parliament adopted by 551 votes to 63, with 83 abstentions, a resolution on new orientations for the EU’s humanitarian action.
  • Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, with 238 million people in need of assistance in 2021 , mainly due to conflict, but also to systemic factors such as climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, global population growth, food insecurity, limited water resources and failed governance. The COVID-19 outbreak has further exacerbated the global humanitarian crisis.
  • Addressing growing needs and reducing the funding gap
  • Parliament welcomed the Commission's communication on EU humanitarian action and called for the rapid implementation of these proposals in close consultation and cooperation with humanitarian partners to ensure that aid is predictable, not fragmented and does not duplicate other actions.
  • Members consider that EU humanitarian aid should always be provided solely on the basis of well-defined and pre-assessed needs , fully in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and pay particular attention to the difficulties faced by vulnerable groups. The Commission is invited to place the principle of ‘ no one left behind ’ at the heart of the new approach to humanitarian action.
  • Concerned about the sharp increase in the humanitarian funding gap, Parliament called on the Commission to provide a robust annual budget for EU humanitarian aid and maintain a ring-fenced envelope within the solidarity and emergency aid reserve for humanitarian crises outside the EU. Members called for an increase in funds for humanitarian aid and urged Member States to set an example and allocate a fixed share of their gross national income to humanitarian aid
  • The Commission and the European External Action Service are asked to develop a long-term strategy for working with third countries , in particular emerging donors, to increase the number of donor countries contributing to humanitarian aid on a voluntary basis. Members called for the establishment of an EU coordination mechanism to ensure a coherent EU approach to international humanitarian law. They also highlighted the potential for blended funding initiatives further involving the private sector in EU humanitarian aid.
  • The resolution also called on the Commission and the Member States to: (i) closely monitor violations of international humanitarian law and include violations of international humanitarian law as a criterion for listing individuals or entities under the relevant EU sanctions regimes and (ii) prosecute and sanction those who use starvation as a weapon of war in order to combat widespread violations of the right to food during conflicts.
  • Supporting a more enabling environment for humanitarian aid
  • Stressing the importance of supporting local actors, Members urged the Commission to develop an ambitious localisation policy (especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic) that promotes transparency, making use of partners’ expertise and experience, and outlining how to provide more and better support for local respondents to strengthen their capacities, enable them to make use of all the instruments available and ensure their involvement in decision-making processes.
  • Taking into account the specific aid and protection needs of disaster-affected populations, the resolution called on the Commission to provide the necessary resources for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through, inter alia, the Neighbourhood Instrument, development cooperation and international cooperation, in the framework of an approach based on the triple nexus of humanitarian aid, development and peace involving indigenous peoples and local communities.
  • The Commission and the European External Action Service are invited to adopt a communication developing a clear policy on a humanitarian-development-peace nexus in order to address the root causes of fragility and conflict, drawing in particular on the practical experience of non-governmental organisations.
  • Members called for more concrete gender mainstreaming in future humanitarian action while advocating for free access to free public health services. They called on the EU to implement the Nansen Initiative programme on cross-border displaced persons in the context of disasters and climate change and to place particular emphasis on food as a basic right for all.
  • Lastly, Parliament insisted that the first European Humanitarian Forum in January 2022 should be inclusive and accessible, involve humanitarian implementing partners and seek to increase the visibility of EU humanitarian aid.
docs/2
date
2021-12-15T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0505_EN.html title: T9-0505/2021
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/3
date
2021-12-14T00:00:00
type
Debate in Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2021-12-14-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
events/4
date
2021-12-15T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0505_EN.html title: T9-0505/2021
forecasts
  • date: 2021-12-14T00:00:00 title: Debate in plenary scheduled
  • date: 2021-12-15T00:00:00 title: Vote in plenary scheduled
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament's vote
New
Procedure completed
docs/2
date
2021-11-19T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0328_EN.html title: A9-0328/2021
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
events/2/summary
  • The Committee on Development adopted an own-initiative report by Norbert NEUSER (S&D, DE) on new orientations for the EU’s humanitarian action.
  • Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, with 238 million people in need of assistance in 2021 , mainly due to conflict, but also to systemic factors such as climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, global population growth, food insecurity, limited water resources and failed governance. The COVID-19 outbreak has further exacerbated the global humanitarian crisis.
  • The report sets out how the EU and its Member States can respond to the challenge, working with their various humanitarian partners and other donors. It proposes a series of initiatives grouped into two main areas:
  • Addressing the growing needs and reducing the funding gap
  • While welcoming the Commission's communication on EU humanitarian action, Members recalled that EU humanitarian aid must always be provided solely on the basis of well-defined and pre-assessed needs, fully in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence , and pay particular attention to the difficulties faced by vulnerable groups. They welcomed the Commission's initiative of integrating education in emergencies.
  • Concerned about the sharp increase in the humanitarian funding gap, Members called on the Commission to provide a robust annual budget for EU humanitarian aid to ensure timely, predictable and flexible funding for humanitarian aid from the start of each financial year, and to keep a ring-fenced envelope within the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve for humanitarian crises outside the EU. Member States are urged to lead by example and allocate a fixed share of their gross national incomes to humanitarian aid.
  • The Commission and the European External Action Service are asked to develop a long-term strategy for working with third countries , in particular emerging donors, to increase the number of donor countries contributing to humanitarian aid on a voluntary basis. Members called for the establishment of an EU coordination mechanism to ensure a coherent EU approach to international humanitarian law.
  • The report also called on the Commission and the Member States to: (i) closely monitor violations of international humanitarian law and include violations of international humanitarian law as a criterion for listing individuals or entities under the relevant EU sanctions regimes and (ii) prosecute and sanction those who use starvation as a weapon of war in order to combat widespread violations of the right to food during conflicts.
  • Supporting a more enabling environment for humanitarian aid
  • Members stressed the importance of supporting local actors and urged the Commission to develop an ambitious localisation policy (especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic) that promotes transparency, making use of partners’ expertise and experience, and outlining how to provide more and better support for local respondents to strengthen their capacities, enable them to make use of all the instruments available and ensure their involvement in decision-making processes.
  • The report highlighted the challenges posed by climate change and called on the Commission to provide the necessary resources for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through, inter alia , the Neighbourhood Instrument, development cooperation and international cooperation, in the framework of an approach based on the triple nexus of humanitarian aid, development and peace involving indigenous peoples and local communities.
  • The Commission and the European External Action Service are invited to adopt a communication developing a clear policy on a humanitarian-development-peace nexus in order to address the root causes of fragility and conflict, drawing in particular on the practical experience of non-governmental organisations.
  • Members called for more concrete gender mainstreaming in future humanitarian action. They called on the EU to implement the Nansen Initiative programme on cross-border displaced persons in the context of disasters and climate change and to place particular emphasis on food as a basic right for all.
  • Lastly, Members insisted that the first European Humanitarian Forum in January 2022 should be inclusive and accessible, involve humanitarian implementing partners and seek to increase the visibility of EU humanitarian aid.
forecasts/1
date
2021-12-15T00:00:00
title
Vote in plenary scheduled
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0328_EN.html
events/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0328_EN.html
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Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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forecasts/0
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2021-12-14T00:00:00
title
Debate in plenary scheduled
forecasts/0
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2021-12-13T00:00:00
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Indicative plenary sitting date
events/2
date
2021-11-19T00:00:00
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Committee report tabled for plenary
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Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament's vote
events/1
date
2021-11-09T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee
body
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procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159