EU Framework on Crisis Management: What Role for Humanitarian NGOs?

Since its creation in 1993, the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) has developed rapidly. The need for more coordination between the different EU Institutions, to enhance the capacity to react expediently and efficiently in case of crises, has pushed the EU to evolve to be able to reach its external policy aims. New offices, structures and procedures have been created or are being created to develop a comprehensive common foreign policy. We appear to be back to a time of debate between foreign policy and humanitarianism. This was less of an issue in European terms in the past as the EU only had a nascent foreign policy, and no security and defence policy. The Union’s foreign policy element is now developing with great impetus. Herein lies the challenge for NGOs, who should strive to know and understand the processes and implications, and who should seek to define their role and function in this process.