EP en Grigorieva bespreken hulp conflictgebieden Syrië en Mali (en)

Development Committee MEPs expressed their support and recognition for the work done by the European Commission in Mali and Syria in a debate with Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva on Monday.

"You have the Development Committee's full support in your work if necessary, whether in delivering European humanitarian aid on the ground or when you call upon all parties to a conflict to respect fundamental humanitarian principles", said vice-chair Michèle Striffler i (EPP, FR).

"In Mali and Syria we have seen significant evolutions lately for better and for worse, respectively", Commissioner Georgieva told MEPs.

"The situation in Mali continues to be very dramatic" whereas in Syria, "the critical point is to avoid the politicisation of our aid," she said, adding that "Our relief actions should not be perceived by either side as being "with" or "against" them".

In the debate, MEPs emphasized the situation of women, possible post-crisis measures for state building and restoring governance, and the coordination of actions for Syria.

In the chair: Michèle Striffler (EPP, FR).