ICRC president calls on EU to up humanitarian efforts

On 26 and 27 May, ICRC president Peter Maurer called on the EU to up its humanitarian efforts to help stabilize swathes of the Middle East and Africa gripped by crisis. He also called upon governments to embrace the urgent humanitarian imperative in their response to the Mediterranean migration crisis, itself fuelled by conflict and instability in countries of origin.

Mr Maurer made his comments during an official visit to Brussels where he met the president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, president of the European Council Donald Tusk as well as the Vice-President of the European Commission for Budget and Human Resources Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica. During his stay in Brussels, Mr Maurer also met the Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Alexander Vershbow, and Deputy Prime Ministers of Belgium Alexander De Croo and Didier Reynders, together with other senior figures.