EP Standing Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid

On 6 October 2009, the Development Committee of the European Parliament (EP) appointed Ms Michèle Striffler, French Nationality, EPP, Vice-Chairwoman of the Development Committee, Standing Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid for a mandate of two years.

The EP established the post of Standing Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid in 2006, in order to further improve its role in humanitarian issues. The mandate of the Rapporteur is to preserve the humanitarian aid budget interests, to follow the work of the European Commission in this sector, to monitor the implementation of the humanitarian aid programmes and budget, as well as to maintain relations with humanitarian actors.  

Ms Striffler will regularly inform the Development Committee on humanitarian issues, with the assistance of experts, if necessary. At the end of each year she will prepare a report on main humanitarian matters. In addition, Ms Striffler will prepare an own-initiative report on the mid-term review of the Action Plan on the implementation of the Consensus on Humanitarian Aid by the end of 2010.

The Red Cross/EU Office has been working fruitfully with the previous Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid (Mr T. Cornillet) who was tasked to negotiate the European Consensus with the other EU institutions. The Red Cross/EU Office intends to continue working with the European Parliament; it has therefore established contacts with the office of Ms Striffler in view of a possible meeting shortly.

We will keep you informed on the follow-up of these contacts and we remain at your disposal for any questions you might have.