Janez LENARČIČ, Commissioner-designate for Crisis Management, is heard by the Committee on Development (DEVE) in association with the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament in Brussels for a hearing to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio.

Brussels

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Committee on Development

NEUSER, Norbert (S&D, DE)

RIVASI, Michèle (Greens/EFA, FR)

HÖLVÉNYI, György (EPP, HU)

hearing of Commissioners

LENARČIČ, Janez (SI, EC)

KOPCIŃSKA, Joanna (ECR, PL)

2019 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Janez LENARČIČ 2019 (T)

Hearing of Janez LENARČIČ, Commissioner-designate, Crisis Management: extracts from the hearing

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15167672/I178298Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Gy&#246;rgy H&#214;LV&#201;NYI (EPP, HU), How do you intend to help returning Syrian refugees and intend to provide for their basic humanitarian needs?

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENARCIC, Commissioner-designate, Crisis Management, I will pursue the principled position when it comes to returns. That means we will support returns, promote returns that are safe, that are dignified and that are sustainable and perhaps even more importantly that are voluntary. For the time being my assessment is that the conditions are still not there in Syria for such returns to take place. But I agree with you completely that reconstruction of Syria will require enormous enormous investment.

SOUNDBITE (German), Norbert NEUSER (S&amp;D, DE), I wonder therefore how you are going to make the Nexus more effective if you become Commissioner and how you are going to evaluate the pilot project in Chad, Nigeria, Sudan and Uganda?

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENARCIC, Commissioner-designate, Crisis Management, Nexus is something I value very much and it has already proven its worth when it comes to Nexus between humanitarian work and development. I intend to pursue that. Why? Because we don't want the humanitarian aid to be needed forever. I don't think that is in our interest. I also don't think that is in the interest of our beneficiaries.

SOUNDBITE (French), Mich&#232;le RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), What criteria will you use in deciding to take action in humanitarian crises when there are natural disasters such as in the Bahamas, earthquakes. It is clear everything has been destroyed and Europe takes action. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENARCIC, Commissioner-designate, Crisis Management, My answer would be first we go on the basis of the needs assessment. If there is a need, we should go in accordance of the principle of impartiality. 

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna Maria KOPCI&#323;SKA (ECR, PL), What do you think about the role of the private sector in humanitarian aid? 

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENARCIC, Commissioner-designate, Crisis Management, When we have to deal with the fact that there is an increasing funding gap. The latest situation is that 44% of humanitarian needs are unaddressed because of the lack of funding. So we should look elsewhere, we should look at the possibility of involving the private sector. When we do so, one thing should be made clear. This should not be done at the expense of our coherence of the principles that govern humanitarian assistance. 

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel URB&#193;N CRESPO (GUE/NGL, ES), During the course of your term in office, what are you going to do to defend that humanitarian law? For example, suspending trade agreements or proposing any penalties for those countries who failed abiding by humanitarian law?

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENARCIC, Commissioner-designate, Crisis Management, I will raise my voice, I will condemn all violations of humanitarian law. That's what I wil do. Second, I intend to work with those organizations that have priveleged access to armed actors. Be it state armies or non-state armed actors to draw their attention to the importance of respect of the international humanitarian law. 