MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Boosting EU humanitarian diplomacy to safeguard international humanitarian law and humanitarian space – E-002782/2025

Question for written answer  E-002782/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Leire Pajín (S&D)

The mission letter of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Commissioner Hadja Lahbib spoke of the need to ‘boost humanitarian diplomacy efforts’. Given the rising attacks on international humanitarian law (IHL) and the widespread challenges in securing humanitarian access in conflict-affected settings, which often remain overlooked, there is a clear need to strengthen EU humanitarian diplomacy.

Given the foregoing:

• 1.What new, concrete steps is the Commission taking or planning to take to enhance efforts in humanitarian diplomacy along with the EU Member States and international partners?
• 2.Will humanitarian diplomacy be integrated into its actions aimed at mainstreaming the principle of ‘preparedness by design’ within the work of the EU delegations, common security and defence policy missions and operations, and EU Special Representatives? If so, how?
• 3.What initiatives is the EU pursuing to address gaps in monitoring IHL violations, including through improved data collection and evidence-based advocacy, and does the Commission plan to establish a dedicated mechanism to systematically monitor and report on humanitarian access challenges in conflict-affected settings that would inform the humanitarian diplomacy efforts of the EU, its Member States and its international partners?

Submitted: 9.7.2025