Beyond Principles vs. Politics: Humanitarian Aid in the European Union

Against a background of a generally perceived trend towards the politicization of humanitarian aid, this paper reviews recent policies by the European Commission as one of the biggest donors of humanitarian aid worldwide. It aims to show how the European Union's (EU’s) Comprehensive Approach and the Resilience Strategy, in particular, contribute to the politicization of humanitarian aid. The paper contributes a new perspective on the politicization of humanitarian aid with a focus on contestation about fundamental humanitarian principles – neutrality, impartiality and independence – in policy-making. It therewith challenges the common wisdom that the EU’s humanitarian aid is void of any political or security interest. Contestation between different stakeholders reveals that humanitarian aid is being politicized, despite the EU’s strong commitment to humanitarian principles, as its policies blur the lines between humanitarian aid, security and development cooperation. The paper also highlights the role of non-governmental organizations in challenging and influencing this particular part of EU foreign policy.