José-Manuel, in turn, takes up the pen and presents his “plan for Pakistan”
(BRUSSELS2) The wolf's response to the shepherdess (or the opposite, depending) was quick. After the missive, a tad threatening from Nicolas Sarkozy to the European Commission (1), here is the response of the President of the Commission who defends himself from any delay. "The drama of Pakistan affects us all" he writes. Then, stung, he argues: "the European Commission was the first to react (July 30), and to increase (August 11), the funds allocated to Pakistan, (...) my services worked tirelessly (...). The services of DG Echo (Humanitarian Aid Office) are demonstrating their professionalism and efficiency in responding to major humanitarian crises". So much for the defense (justified in my opinion) of European work. But the most interesting thing is in the announcement "a three-step action plan" which takes up, in part, the three recommendations of the French President of the Republic.
An action plan for Pakistan
1° A joint Ashton-Georgieva letter (respectively the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid) will be sent to the Member States to specify the modalities for the coordination of humanitarian aid. It is DG Echo (which now includes the Civil Protection Mechanism) that will lend its support to the "active coordination" of any humanitarian initiative or logistical assistance.
2° The increase in the sums allocated to Pakistan, "this before the end of the month".
3° The follow-up of the crisis, with a "possible donor conference" for Pakistan. This point will be on the agenda of the Gymnich, the informal council of foreign ministers, on September 10.
Continuing reflection on civil security
On the idea of a European civil protection force, Barroso tempers the French president by reminding him of the lukewarmness (the word is weak) which had welcomed the proposals of the Barnier report in 2006. "A number of Member States then showed more than relative enthusiasm for the idea of a European structure". But, he promises, after an "in-depth" reflection, and consultations with Member States (France has been consulted), led by the Ashton - Georgieva duo, a proposal for "a new policy" crisis response will be made"very soon", to be discussed by the competent Ministers.
This is called a return to sender! However, I will not be relieved of a doubt: isn't Europe still reacting too slowly, very lukewarmly, and with little audacity in reacting to crises?
Last point, concerning the use of military means to deliver humanitarian aid, Barroso salutes it but with tweezers. He can't even help showing some doubts. It is "Useful", he said, if "certain parameters are respected"."It is important that the use of these means does not expose the humanitarian operators, who have already lost many of their members in the Pakistani conflict zones, to the same risks as those incurred by the military". (NB: the day of humanitarian aid is commemorated these days, on August 19, the day in 2003 when 22 UN employees, including its Special Representative in Iraq, the Brésilien Sergio Vieira de Mello, died in an attack in Baghdad).
(1) Read: When Nicolas goes up the suspenders to José-Manuel
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
