Humanitarian aid could have an indirect impact on migration flows as it encouraged people to stay in safe places closer to home and avoid crossing over to Europe, according to European Commissioner Christos Stylianides.
Humanitarian aid is not a migration tool or a political instrument, but it indirectly deals with the root causes of the migration influx, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management told the Times of Malta.
Referring to last year’s EU-Turkey Statement, he said that migration flows towards Europe have already declined since the agreement became operational.
“[In the meantime], we delivered humanitarian assistance on the ground, and people felt it was better to stay very close to their homes, in the hope that they can return to their homes when the situation in Syria is better,” he explained, noting that education was key.
It was a visit to Lebanon, soon after he took on the post of Commissioner, that inspired Mr Sty-lianides to focus on education.
“At the time, through our partners we provided basic needs, such as shelter and food. There was a mother of six children who thanked me through a translator, and told me: Commissioner, for my family, what is most important is giving my children hope through education.
“That is why from the beginning of my mandate, I decided to increase our budget for education emergencies.”
While humanitarian aid dealt with urgent needs, it could have medium and long-term effects, he noted, adding that the Commission was now looking into how it could provide education in Syria.
The EU is not about institutions in Brussels or the political elite
Asked whether he was disappointed with some European countries’ unwillingness to help those weighed down with migration, Mr Stylianides said that solidarity was a two-way mechanism.
“Personally, I’m disappointed. As we already said, solidarity can never be a-la-carte.”
Some countries, the Commissioner added, had not fulfilled their commitment on the relocation and resettlement procedure.
Despite repeated calls, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have not yet taken action and this saw the Commission launching infringement procedures against them, he added.
In this context he congratulated Malta for honouring its word.
The Commissioner was speaking to this newspaper as hundreds of firefighters in Portugal were battling a raging forest fire that claimed at least 64 lives.
On Sunday, Portugal activated the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, requesting firefighting aircraft. By Monday, France had sent three firefighting planes and Italy and Spain had also offered four additional planes.
The Commissioner explained that the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which monitors natural disasters 24/7, was in constant contact to channel support.
The EERC is a voluntary pool of resources from the countries that participate in the Civil Protection Mechanism. These include all member states, Iceland, Norway, Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey.
In July, Commissioner Stylianides will be signing an administrative agreement with Tunisia to expand collaboration with some northern African countries. For him, this Civil Protection Mechanism reflects “tangible solidarity”.
When his home country Cyprus was last year hit by devastating forest fires, it also received European help.
“People in Cyprus realised that the EU is not about institutions in Brussels or the political elite, but it’s about tangible solidarity.
“That is why, as Commissioner, I believe we have to increase our abilities through this mechanism.”
Apart from natural disasters, European countries also come together is health emergencies.
Against the backdrop of the Ebola epidemic, they joined forces under the Civil Protection Mechanism and set up what is known as the European Medical Corps.
Mr Stylianides, who was appointed European Commissioner in November of 2014, admitted that the international community did not initially react to the Ebola outbreak efficiently and effectively.
“On my first visit to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, I realised that the major problem was the rapid and predictable deployment of medical teams and equipment.”
For him, the major lesson learnt from the Ebola outbreak was the launch of the Medical Corps.
The impact of this corps could be seen in Angola with the more recent outbreak of the yellow fever, where Europe could be proactive, the Commissioner said, calling for increased participation.