On 30 September 2014, Christos Stylianides, Member designate of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, was heard by the Committee on Development to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Christos Stylianides had the opportunity to make an opening statement, he took part in a question and answer session and made a closing statement. Although the Parliament can only vote on the Commission as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced.

Brussels

exchange of views

Committee on Development

STYLIANIDES, Christos (CY, EC)

hearing

HAUTALA, Heidi (Greens/EFA, FI)

SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Lola (GUE/NGL, ES)

STIER, Davor Ivo (EPP, HR)

LIETZ, Arne (S&D, DE)

KARSKI, Karol (ECR, PL)

hearing of Christos STYLIANIDES (T)

Hearing of Christos STYLIANIDES (Cyprus), Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management: MEPS questions & answers

SOUNDBITE (English), Davor Ivo STIER (EPP, DE), "What would be your concrete steps when dealing with the Ebola outbreak?"

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, "If you honour me with your trust, I believe that my political conscience and my doctor's training will mean that I have to be present on the ground, my first trip will be to the ares where the virus is active, in order to witness the situation to be able to to form my own opinion. There, in front of the sick people I will be able to undestand what needs to be done, in order to draft a plan for the cooperation and coordination of what has to be done on the ground."

SOUNDBITE (English), Arne LIETZ (S&amp;D, DE), "What steps would you suggest for a better coordination between Member States as well as with other international actors?"

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, "It is a  precondition, the cooperation of international partners with the commissioner for humanitarian action is a pre-condition, it is a necessary building stone to construct our work. We have new data on Ebola now, we had underestimated it, and there's anew mobilisation of the international community and there should be, I believe, immediate action."

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Karol KARSKI (ECR, PL), "How would you assess the EU objectives and our state of preparedness for this summit (World Humanitarian Summit)?"

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, "I believe that Europe should be well prepared. That is why we will have a pre-conference in 2015 in Bucharest. And I believe that, if confirmed, I believe that the Commissioner, together with your committee on development, should arrive at a common European stance."

SOUNDBITE (Finnish), Heidi Anneli HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), "I would like to hear, when there's a first world humanitarian summit, could you think of a new way of activating people in refugee camps, a new way of giving them hope, for people who live there for long,  a 'Refugee plan 2.0' would be an idea, would you be willing to pursue that line of thought?"

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, "There's the problem of malnourishment, but there are also the psychological effects, and the fact there are no prospects for these children, nothing in front of them for the rest of their lives. It can not get out of the vicious circle of the traumatic situation it is facing.These issues must be discussed in Istanbul in order to arrive at a common European position".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Lola S&#193;NCHEZ CALDENTEY (GUE/NGL, ES), "I would like to know to know how you are going to be dealing with sexual health and reproduction rights in post-conflict areas, have you got any ideas, will this be a priority, or will women be forced to have children which are the fruits of rape? Thank you."

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Managementt, "As a doctor, ofcourse I am for abortions in such cases. I believe a woman in such circumstances should have that right, but at he same time she should be informed,  and she should make the decision, according to the legal framework of her country and having being granted all the necessary information on health issues, on psychological issues etc."