On 30 September 2014, Christos Stylianides, Member designate of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, was heard by the Committee on Development to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Christos Stylianides had the opportunity to make an opening statement, he took part in a question and answer session and made a closing statement. Although the Parliament can only vote on the Commission as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced.

Brussels

statement

Committee on Development

STYLIANIDES, Christos (CY, EC)

hearing

humanitarian aid

hearing of Christos STYLIANIDES (T)

Hearing of Christos STYLIANIDES (Cyprus), Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management: statement by Christos STYLIANIDES

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "I know what it means to be in a conflict situation.To have no shelter, to be without the basic needs,to leave in fear and be stripped of your dignity. As a child and then again as a student I witnessed the suffering of the people of Cyprus; Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. I witnessed the pain of displacement . I understood the hard way the importance and the necessity of humanitarian aid."

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "We will continue with our mandate of providing essential assistance to victims . The EU must not arrive with too little too late, not even once. I want to contribute to humanitarian and  relief workers to stay and deliver.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, " I want to be the spokesperson of the most vulnerable. The voice of the voiceless."

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "Women and girls are particularly vulnerable in conflict situation and I intend to give them specific attention."

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "Prevention is better than cure. Prevention is better than cure therefore I will continue the work on resilience.Investing in resilience today through humanitarian and development assistance is much more cost effective than responding to a crisis tomorrow."

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "The Ebola crisis is a perfect example of a crucial need for something beyond coordination. A really join up approach between countries and different ministries. We are working towards that in the Commission bringing all the services together in a newly created emergency response coordination centre (ERCC) linking up with Member states, our international partners and the big humanitarian donors."

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "We need to continue protecting European citizens. The implementation of the new civil Protection legislation should bring up a more reliable , predictable and efficient response to disasters but also contribute to preventing disasters in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "I will continue to ensure the humanitarian aid is not instrumentalised and that its  principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence are respected. This is the precondition that will allow humanitarian workers to get access to the victims."

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis management, "This portfolio is full of urgencies. I am a fast learner and if you offer me your trust I will continue to work day and night to deepen my understanding on all the issues. And I will regularly be back in this Committee to discuss with you."