A Study On The EU's Humanitarian Aid After The End Of The Cold War

After the cold war,influenced by the change of international situation,humanitarian aid has drawn great attention.After the end of the bipolar system and increasing humanitarian crises,more and more actors have been involved in humanitarian aid.As an important part of foreign aid,humanitarian aid is de-political,which focus on the lives and dignity of the victims and adhere to humanitarian principles:independence,impartiality,neutrality and humanity.EU is one of the most important humanitarian actors in the world and serves as the world's largest humanitarian aid donor.EU provides humanitarian aid to regions that are affected by humanitarian crises throughout the world through cooperation with other international organizations or non-governmental organizations.EU has been involved in humanitarian assistance since the 1970s.However,humanitarian aid in this period is not an important part of the EC's external relations.And there is no independent institution to manage humanitarian aid.The aid is very limited.Humanitarian aid was gradually institutionalized until the establishment of the European Commission Office for Humanitarian Aid(ECHO)in 1992.From then on,EU's humanitarian aid has experienced three stages of development,and established an independent management agency;set up the objectives of humanitarian aid,and cooperation framework;established legal basis for humanitarian aid;and build social consensus as well as strengthen citizen participation.The content and scope of humanitarian aid have been expanded and aid mechanisms have been improved.EU's humanitarian aid is available all over the world,including emergency-based relief based on survival and living needs,as well as long-term development and protection-based relief.The EU is not only concerned about the major crisis areas,but also the forgotten crisis areas.Providing humanitarian aid shows the humanitarian care and European values of the EU,which is important to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe,enhance the image and influence of the EU and enhance cohesion in Europe.However,the humanitarian assistance of the EU is often questioned and considered politically motivated,which undermines the principle of humanitarian aid,which not only in the humanitarian aid mechanisms within the EU but also in relation between EU and other Country,as well as t EU's foreign policy.The Syrian crisis is a typical case,reflecting the EU humanitarian aid is still affected by political factors.Facing with political challenges,EU still needs to take more measures to improve the humanitarian aid mechanisms and policies.