"Coherence in EU external action: the case of humanitarian aid"

Versluys, Helen. (2007) "Coherence in EU external action: the case of humanitarian aid". In: UNSPECIFIED, Montreal, Canada. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

[From the introduction] The European Security Strategy (2003: 11) states that if the European Union is to make a contribution to international politics “that matches [its] potential”, it has to be “more coherent”. This paper identifies four levels at which coherence concerns come into play. (1) Horizontal coherence refers to the extent to which different EU external policies are streamlined. (2) Institutional coherence denotes the tensions which arise because responsibility for external relations is shared between the Commission and the Council. It also covers coherence problems within the Commission. (3) The degree of alignment of member states’ national policies and activities undertaken at the EU level is called vertical coherence. (4) Multilateral coherence points to how EU external action relates to that of other international actors. Using humanitarian aid policy as a case, the paper examines the nature of coherence problems. (1) To what extent is EU humanitarian aid policy coherent with EU development, crisis management, and human rights activities? (2) Do tensions arise between the European Commission’s humanitarian office ECHO and the Council bodies in charge of the Common Foreign and Security Policy/European Security and Defence Policy? (3) Do the humanitarian aid initiatives of the European Commission and national humanitarian aid departments reinforce, contradict, or duplicate each other? (4) Is EU humanitarian aid policy consistent with the efforts of other donors?

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