Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has hosted the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Kristalina Georgieva, at an event in Belfast attended by local charities, organisations, churches and schools who work in the area of international development and humanitarian aid.
Jim said, “I was delighted that the Commissioner accepted my personal invitation to come here to Northern Ireland to engage with local organisations that spend their time, effort and money to help those in severe need all across the world. Northern Ireland has always been known for its generous giving which I have seen for myself when I led the European Parliament delegation to Haiti following the devastating earthquake there in 2010.
I was delighted that organisations here got the opportunity to engage with the EU Commissioner who is in charge of the EU’s €1bn humanitarian aid budget each year. The event was very successful with the Commissioner questioned on the EU response to the current crisis in Mali, on her longer term vision for the future of EU humanitarian aid and the on-going efforts to bring relief to those still affected by crisis and disasters in places such as Haiti.”