Press release - Humanitarian aid: the EU must condemn violations of international humanitarian law

MEPs adopted the resolution on the joint communication on humanitarian aid by a show of hands. The plenary resolution follows the publication by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 27 May 2026 of a joint communication entitled ‘Defending values, driving reform, delivering impact: the EU’s humanitarian action in a shifting global order’.

International humanitarian law violations

Parliament condemns the obstruction of humanitarian aid and the delivery of humanitarian aid to advance military agendas and the politicisation of humanitarian aid by severely restricting access to live-saving aid. MEPs condemn the increase in attacks and killing of humanitarian workers in conflict areas. They reiterate that intentional attacks against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance mission constitute war crimes. The Commission and EU member states should, MEPs say, unequivocally condemn the killing of humanitarian workers and invest in the investigations and prosecution of perpetrators. According to the resolution, the EU should strengthen its capacity to monitor and document violations of international humanitarian law (IHL), including through support for independent accountability mechanisms and cooperation with international investigative bodies.

Funding crisis

The resolution reflects Parliament’s concerns about the global humanitarian and development funding crisis, and the decision by key donors, including several EU member states, to reduce their aid budgets. There are also concerns that growing geopolitical competition and shifting donor priorities may divert attention and resources away from the world's least developed and most fragile countries. MEPs insist that the quality and accountability of EU humanitarian assistance are of key importance and that humanitarian reforms must be needs-based, results-driven and focussed on effectiveness and real impact.

The Commission and member states should, MEPs say, increase their support both for displaced populations and for the communities hosting them, to invest in durable solutions and self-reliance, and to ensure that responses to the protracted displacement of people due to humanitarian crises bridge humanitarian, development and peace action.