MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on European humanitarian aid in the form of cash transfers

B9‑0159/2021

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on European humanitarian aid in the form of cash transfers

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the ‘Grand Bargain’ of 23 May 2016,

– having regard to the Council Conclusions of 22 June 2015 (EUCO 10184/15),

– having regard to Rule 143 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas commitments 3.1 and 3.6 of the Grand Bargain call for cash assistance[1]; whereas the aforementioned Council conclusions state that ‘assistance through cash transfers can be more effective and efficient than humanitarian assistance in kind’, and whereas in 2017 cash and vouchers accounted for approximately 38% of the Commission’s humanitarian aid, i.e. over EUR 990 million[2];

B. whereas, according to The New Humanitarian, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Rapid Response to Movements of Population (RRMP) programme has been greatly tarnished by fraud, namely embezzlement of cash transfers of up to USD 6 million to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and whereas the European Union provided EUR 28.1 million to the RRMP between 2013 and 2017[3] [4] [5];

1. Is alarmed at the risks of embezzlement and misuse of this aid;

2. Urges the Commission to make such aid contingent upon strict checks and audits, particularly in respect of the number of beneficiaries.