- European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid
European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid is a member of the
European Commission . The post is currently held by CommissionerLouis Michel (ALDE )The portfolio deals with promoting sustainable development in deprived regions (such as
ACP countries and the EU's OCTs) and the distribution of aid; the European Commission is the largest supplier ofhumanitarian aid in the world.Current commissioner
After the
Israeli-Lebanese conflict in 2006 the Commissioner visitedLebanon and called for €30 million to repair the damage there. The Parliament's development committee was cautious though about the expenditure and he was also criticised for his slow response with oneMEP comparing him to "a fireman who arrives at the scene after the fire has gone out". In the same debate MEPs attacked the Commissioner for "appearing partial in the Congolese elections" in describingJoseph Kabila as "the hope of Congo". Michel responded by saying he would have said the same about any candidate in the democratic elections. [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/028-10126-240-08-35-903-20060828IPR10123-28-08-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm]Louis Michel has caused some mild controversy in 2007 among MEPs when it became known that he is to take leave from his work to compete in Belgian elections. Generally Commissioners are meant to remain above national politics and the European Parliament's development committee asked the Parliament's legal service to assess if his participation violates the treaties. [http://www.europeanvoice.com/current/article.asp?id=27791] During his absence (
12 May 2007 onwards), Commissioner Rehn will take over his duties.His head of cabinet is Sabine Weyand, deputy head; Koen Doens and spokesperson; Amadeu Altafaj-Tardio.
List of commissioners
ee also
* Directorate-General for Development
*ACP-EU Development Cooperation
* ECHO
*EuropeAid Co-operation Office
*European Development Fund External links
* [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/michel/index_en.htm Commissioner's website]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/development/index_en.htm Commission Development website]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm Commission Humanitarian Aid website]
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