On 1 July 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution responding to the joint communication JOIN(2026)0025 of 27 May 2026, which outlines the EU's humanitarian action in a shifting global order. The resolution, tabled by Renew MEP Barry Andrews on behalf of the Committee on Development (DEVE), calls for strengthening International Humanitarian Law (IHL) compliance, protecting humanitarian workers, and developing a common EU humanitarian diplomacy strategy. It notes that over 300 million people need humanitarian aid, with the UN's 2026 appeal for USD 33 billion aiming to reach 135 million people in 50 countries, while the 2025 appeal received only USD 12 billion—the lowest in a decade.
The resolution demands that 5% of official development assistance (ODA) in fragile contexts go to women-led organisations, and calls on Member States to meet the 0.7% ODA target with 10% allocated to humanitarian action. It supports localisation, urging that 25% of humanitarian funding be directed to local actors by 2027, and proposes a new global programme for multisectoral needs assessments. The text also emphasises the need to uphold humanitarian principles, boost funding efficiency, protect civilians and workers, and integrate gender equality and local partnerships into all humanitarian responses.
As a resolution adopted in plenary, this text represents the European Parliament's official position for negotiations with the Council and the Commission. The joint communication it responds to was published by the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) on 27 May 2026, setting the stage for this parliamentary input. The resolution will now inform the EU's humanitarian aid policy, affecting the European Commission, EEAS, EU Member States, and humanitarian actors worldwide.