The European Union and humanitarian crises

Abstract

The aim and objective of this study is to outline the evolution and mechanisms of humanitarian aid provided by the European Union. Unquestionably, this is a significant issue, which, however, only found a direct legal basis in the Treaty of Lisbon, referring to humanitarian aid, and became the subject of a separate policy. Its principles, structure, and mechanisms of financing were clarified through the unification and harmonization of acts of secondary law. This also includes sui generis acts, which had a specific impact on the area of external actions in the discussed aspect. The fundamental goal of this study is to present the legal and political framework of humanitarian aid along with examples regarding practical aspects of providing assistance. The study employs the method of investigation of the law in force and legal comparison, consisting in, e.g., an attempt to find adequate legal solutions for broadly understood humanitarian aid provided by the European Union.

Keywords

• European Union
• humanitarian policy
• Treaty of Lisbon
• Humanitarian Aid Regulation
• International Humanitarian Law
• European Consensus