TEPSA has coordinated a study requested by DEVE Committee of the European Parliament. The study was authored by Francesca Pusterla, a Postdoctoral Researcher working at Ca’ Foscari University, Italy, and Elia R.G. Pusterla, a Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Switzerland. The study is entitled “The Future of Humanitarian Aid in a New Context Full of Challenges”.
In light of the current highly challenging background of humanitarian intervention for the European Union and international humanitarian donors, the European Commission has adopted a Communication on the EU’s humanitarian action: new challenges, same principles. It provides guidelines on how the EU may face this challenge in collaboration with Member States and donor partners. The Communication focuses on two main areas: (1) addressing needs, reducing the funding gap, and (2) supporting an enabling environment for humanitarian aid. Through an analysis of the Communication’s seven objectives, the authors address key actions and provide final recommendations. Furthermore, authors evaluate which key actions are the most promising, critical or challenging, which have already been partially implemented and which should be prioritised. Implementation of the key actions is generally well developed, albeit many are found to share certain critical issues. These refer specifically to the need for: increased transparency and accountability; enhancing EU coordination with donor partners; and significantly strengthening the EU’s leadership role. Moreover, the implementation of key actions must take greater account of dialogue and coordination both in the decision-making phase as well as in the implementation of humanitarian aid on the ground.