Commission staff working paper

External relations questions

1. Council Working Group on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA)

The work of this group was successfully launched under the Czech Presidency of the European Council at the start of 2009 and continued under Swedish stewardship in the second half of the year. The impetus for the group came during negotiations on the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid. Having a dedicated forum for regular policy exchange among Member State and Commission experts gave a boost to developing a more coherent, co-ordinated EU approach to humanitarian policy and action.

The working group, which brings together representatives from Member States capitals, met 10 times over the year. The Commission drew up a work plan with incoming EU Presidencies, with points on specific humanitarian crises (e.g. the Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Colombia, DRC, Gaza Strip, the Philippines, Saharawi refugees, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan/Darfur, Zimbabwe), sectoral subjects (e.g. Food Aid Convention, HIV/AIDS guidelines, cash and voucher guidelines, transport study), and co-ordination on specific subjects (e.g. UN needs assessment work, UN Economic and Social Committee).

In its first year of work, the group established itself as the Council point of reference for questions on humanitarian aid and a useful forum for regular policy level exchanges and closer co-ordination by EU experts on humanitarian aid policy and operational strategies. It has been instrumental in helping the Commission and Member States to develop shared analysis on thematic (including food assistance) and geographical issues and raising the profile and relevance of humanitarian issues with other Council working bodies, notably geographical working groups (as was the case for Sri Lanka for example), the Political and Security Committee and the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which in turn feed in to the Foreign Affairs Council. Discussions took place in the working group on the possible extension/renewal of the Food Aid Convention, and on the implementation of International Humanitarian Law guidelines by the Working Party on International Public Law. In time, this is leading to increased consistency and coherence in the application of the humanitarian principles and good practices outlined in the Consensus for Humanitarian Aid.

The working group also facilitated streamlining of the work of the Humanitarian Aid Committee's work. This committee can now focus exclusively on the Commission’s financing proposals for humanitarian aid. This meant fewer meetings, and more use of the written procedure. Since strategic issues are now routinely put on the working group's agenda, the need for informal Humanitarian Aid Committee meetings was reduced.

On a strategic level, the working group has allowed the European Union to make its humanitarian aid activities more coherent. There is an annual exchange on individual humanitarian aid policies and budgets. This took place in several stages at the beginning of 2009. Policies produced by the Commission are often taken up by Member States (for instance, the HIV/AIDS and protection guidelines); individual EU donors’ activities in specific crises are better co-ordinated and EU positions on specific issues are discussed ahead of international meetings (e.g. on UN needs assessment work). On a day-to-day basis, the work of the group was facilitated by the Commission’s initiative to make its situation reports on specific humanitarian crises widely available. These reports soon became major source of information for a wide audience of stakeholders within and outside of Europe.

2. Co-operation with EU Institutions, Member States, International organisations and other donors

After elections to the European Parliament in June 2009, ECHO focused on following the day-to-day work of the newly constituted committees (mainly the Committee on Development and the Committee on Foreign Affairs). The Commission worked closely with the Committee on Development to raise awareness and interest in humanitarian issues. Several meetings were held with the new Chair of the Committee on Development, Ms Eva Joly, and the new standing Humanitarian Rapporteur, Ms Barbara Striffler, to discuss humanitarian policy and operational issues.

Regarding contacts with EU Member State donors, a high-level visit to the United Kingdom in February consolidated an already solid working relationship between the Commission and the Department for International Development. Newer EU Member States were involved through newcomers' sessions for the Good Donorship Initiative, which the Commission facilitated and through an OCHA Donors' Support Group in Tallinn. In the context of the Council Working Group on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid, the Commission now regularly fields requests from Member States for bilateral discussions, thus reinforcing EU co-ordination in humanitarian aid.

The Commission ensured close contact throughout the year with relevant international organisations, particularly the UN and the Red Cross Movement, on both policy development and operational issues. Numerous high-level meetings and strategic dialogues were organised in Brussels to ensure close contacts with key UN agencies and partners. A special emphasis was put on close co-operation with UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes.

In addition, the Commission ensured representation at UN and Red Cross Movement related meetings and processes, mainly in New York, Geneva and Rome, in close liaison with relevant EU Delegations. Through ECHO's active participation in the OCHA and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Donor Support Groups, and through its observer status at World Food Programme Executive Board meetings and the UN High Commissioner for Refugee's Executive Committee, the Commission provided inputs to strategic decision-making and guidance at these organisations.

The Commission continued to promote EU-co-ordinated positions as well as resolutions and statements in UN bodies reflecting Commission policy. The Commission also took part in a tri-partite meeting with the United States and the United Kingdom with OCHA in New York in October.

Throughout the year, the Commission through ECHO also had extensive contacts with non-EU donors, both at an operational level and at policy level at headquarters. These included a strategic dialogue with the United States in April 2009 as well other meetings with other key and non-traditional donors.

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