Closure of EUCO Haiti
(BRUSSELS2) The ministers of the European Union should ratify, next Monday (10 May), the closure of the post-earthquake reconstruction aid unit in Haiti (EUCO Haiti), which was primarily intended to coordinate aid military and civil protection. The Spanish ship Castilla left Haiti. This unit was set up at the end of January (1) after much criticism concerning both the lack of visibility of European aid and also the lack of coordination of the Member States.
On the balance sheet, we can deplore the loss of 4 Spanish soldiers in a helicopter crash (2). But also many actions: clearing of roads, consolidation of public buildings, repair of water or electricity pipes (3), vaccination campaign, direct care and equipment of dispensaries, aid to the injured or more seriously ill reached, provision of food aid in more remote areas, etc.
EUCO Haiti was provided by the SitCen (EU situation center - in other words the intelligence centre). This could thus prefigure the future crisis management center which would bring together humanitarian aid, civil protection, logistical support for the military... (but it has not yet been done! 
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(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
(1) The 27 approve the coordination cell (EUCO Haiti)
