Following today’s hearing, the S&D Group in the European Parliament gave its approval to the appointment of Christos Stylianides for the post of commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management.
 
In the light of recent crises in Iraq, Syria and Gaza, as well as the Ebola outbreak, the need for effective humanitarian aid and better co-ordination between different EU member states and international institutions is more important than ever.
 
S&D MEP Arne Lietz said after the hearing:
 
“Commissioner-designate Christos Stylianides agreed to consider the possibility of revising the current Council regulation on humanitarian aid, which dates back to 1996. The S&D Group has been calling for this revision for a long time.
 
“We are pleased to note his political will and readiness to work in close co-operation with the European Parliament in order to co-ordinate efforts and actions in the field of implementing humanitarian aid. The commissioner-designate recognises the need to prioritise balancing commitments and payment appropriations to enable the financing of projects.”
 
S&D MEP and vice-president for foreign affairs Victor Boştinaru said:
 
"We will make sure that the commissioner-designate keeps his promises. We need a commissioner who is on the front line in all humanitarian crises, who guides an EU-led international response to situations like the Ebola epidemic or the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, who works closely with the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs while ensuring the independence of his actions from EU political interests."