The Committee on Development (DEVE) debate with Kristalina GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for the Budget and Human Resources on state of play of the humanitarian situation in Pakistan, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

exchange of views

EU - Pakistan (T)

LAMBERT, Jean (Greens/EFA, UK)

Committee on Development

natural disasters (T)

GOMES, Ana (S&D, PT)

GOERENS, Charles (Renew, LU)

GEORGIEVA, Kristalina (BG)

Humanitarian situation in Pakistan: state of play and way forward: extracts from the debate with Kristalina GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for the Budget and Human Resources

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14021883/ebs71826Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for the Budget and Human , Member states have been very good in responding to a call for schlep up assistance. Today together with the Commission we have provided 230 million Euros, this is about 300 million dollars aid against the UN call for the first appeal of 460 million dollars. The EU as always has been generous and came trough very quickly with significant support.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for the Budget and Human , I think EU is perfectly on positioned to take the lead on because it fit so very much in our convictions that we have not only to reduce emissions to tackle climate change but we need to work on improved resilience of countries that are most vulnerable to risks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for the Budget and Human , Given the massive damage and the massive needs of support, trust on the Pakistani government and the way the money are used has to be high. It is not the only country that suffers from disasters, and I can say as a Commission for humanitarian assistance I'm very worried. We are not yet the end of the hurricane season, but my resources are over... because it has been a year of one disaster after an other. And in this context, what I can pledge to you is that we are doing everything we can to stretch every euro we have to the fullest. But we may have to come back to you in the nest months given the proportion and the scale of this disaster and the point we are in terms of overall resources.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles GOERENS (ALDE, LU), (on the visibility aspects) You were present, but I think Europe can do better, Is not to you that I make this remark, but without any false modesty, why the 1st found provider will not inform on its action in a country needing our help.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean LAMBERT (Greens/EFA, UK), I think it will also be useful if the EU will raise the question of Pakistan's international debt, because its seems that the repayment of these debts its likely to be more than the amount of money coming in, in assistance, and therefore asking if the EU could with member states look if there can be any cancellation of some of that or if there can be a moratorium on repayment in a foreseeable future.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT), We are talking about a country which spends a lot of its budget in the military and mainly in the nuclear programme which is in the margin illegal according to the NPTN agreements. Of course we are supposing a kind a shifting of the resources of the government of Pakistan so we insure that the help is directed to the needs of the people of Pakistan.