The meeting was opened by H.E. Mr Mars di Bartolomeo, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg, noting that years 2015 and 2016 are key for the future of development and humanitarian aid, that the United Nations has adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as well as that in that regard the World Humanitarian Summit is planned to be held in Istanbul, in May 2016.

Within the first session, Ms Linda McAvan, Chair of the Development Committee of the European Parliament, and Ms Danièle Lamarque, Member of the European Court of Auditors, emphasised the significance of the European Development Fund (EDF), as the key EU instrument for providing development assistance to the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) countries. It was pointed out that the Fund has at its disposal 29,1 billion Euro in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), as well as that the national parliaments, which control inflow of contributions to the EDF, might offer precious support to the European Parliament within its oversight role. Furthermore, the parliamentarians had the opportunity to be informed on the activities that the European Union has undertaken in order to resolve the problem of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Within the second session, Mr Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner in charge of International cooperation and Development, and Mr Romain Schneider, Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, said that the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 was adopted in New York, in September 2015, containing 17 new SDGs. The Agenda is adopted in order to improve healthcare services, achieve full gender equality, elimination of poverty and hunger, etc.

At the end of the meeting, the participants estimated that in the past 25 years there had been an increase in the humanitarian crisis, and that about 80 million people requires humanitarian aid due to conflicts, natural disasters, social and economic vulnerability, etc. Bearing in mind what was noted, the European Commission established the EU civil protection mechanism, dealing with provision of the humanitarian aid and civil protection.

On behalf of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget, the meeting was attended by Mr Rešid Adrović, a member of the Committee.