Humanitarian aid: definition by the Council of a common position and subsequently of a joint action

The committee unanimously adopted the proposal for a recommendation to the Council on humanitarian action by the EU (rapporteur: M Carlos ROBLES PIQUER - PPE, E). This recommendation, which was adopted as part of the CFSP, aims to put humanitarian action by the EU on a formal footing in the form of common positions and, where appropriate, joint actions. It starts by calling for the defence of democracy and human rights. Countries cannot hide behind the principle of non-interference in order to cover up serious and systematic infringements of human rights and interference becomes a right or a duty on humanitarian grounds or where human rights are seriously violated. It is within the UNO (Security Council) that this right needs to be recognized. The committee considered that the "Eurocorps" and similar military units could participate in action of a humanitarian nature and reiterated Parliament's demand for an international court to be established. It also called on the Council to promote the simplification and clarification of international law, especially the humanitarian aspects. The committee was also in favour of majority voting in the Council for all joint actions taken in application of the recommendation and warned against "renationalization" of humanitarian aid by the EU in the form of "national committees". Recommendations adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs under the CFSP are entered on the agenda of the next session and are deemed to have been adopted unless at least one-tenth of the members of the European Parliament objects, in which case a vote is held in plenary.�