What role does the EU and the European Commission play in humanitarian aid?
Humanitarian aid is a fundamental expression of European solidarity to people in need. The Commission’s relief assistance, provided through its Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), complements EU Member States’ individual efforts. The Commission is responsible for up to half of the EU’s humanitarian funding, providing aid totalling around €800 million annually. The EU as a whole – Commission plus Member States – is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, helping people in need across the globe. The Commission’s mandate for humanitarian aid is defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96.
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