Summary: January 5, 2005: European Parliament - Tsunami: EU aid to the victims of the catastrophe
Council and Commission statements on the tragic and catastrophic events in Asia
Debate : 12.01.2005
Vote : 12.01.2005
On Wednesday morning, the Commission and Council will make statements on the tragic and catastrophic events in Asia following the tsunami. The Luxembourg Presidency has called an extraordinary meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on the afternoon of 7 January 2005 to address the consequences of the tidal wave in Asia.
ECHO, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department, is mobilising rapidly in response to the crisis triggered by the tidal waves in the Indian Ocean. €3 million to cover vital initial needs has already been earmarked under the Commission's special primary emergency procedure to support the efforts of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Federation (IFRC). Further substantial assistance is likely to be mobilised rapidly, once the scale of needs is more fully known. The Commission is able to
mobilise up to €30 million promptly through its emergency procedures. The exact amount of new funding to be allocated in follow-up humanitarian decisions will depend on the needs assessments and on funding requests made by ECHO's operational partners.
The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union issued the following appeal on 2 January 2005:
In order to facilitate the search for missing persons in the countries hit by a tsunami on 26 December 2005, all EU citizens who reside or were travelling in the region are urged to contact their relatives, national authorities or nearest representation of an EU Member State if they have not yet done so.
Travellers who have returned to their home countries after making their own travel arrangements and have not been registered upon arrival are also urged to contact their national authorities as soon as possible.
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