Will Humanitarian Aid Go Down The Drain In The Next European Commission? Interview With Red Cross Director In Brussels

In 2024, the EU's humanitarian aid amounted to €1.8 billion, and the bloc is now the largest international donor of humanitarian aid in Palestine.

Yet the word "humanitarian" is mentioned only a handful of times in European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's mission letter to the future Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, who will lead the EU's humanitarian aid policy.

Will humanitarian assistance be relegated to a less important matter in the next Commission? We talk to Mette Petersen, director of the Red Cross's EU office.

On Monday's agenda, EU ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to address environmental and foreign affairs issues. Expect new sanctions against Iran and frustration over Hungary’s vetoes on two Ukraine-related items, but likely no big breakthroughs.

At the same time, EU environment ministers will discuss the Commission's proposal to delay the deforestation regulation by one year. The law, which aims to stop imports linked to recent deforestation, has been delayed by the EU executive after pressure from industry and third countries, which say they need more guidance.

Lastly, Radio Schuman brings you an overview of the best and worst cities for public transport in Europe. Just to give you an idea, satisfaction levels range from 29% in Rome and Tirana to 91% in Vienna — so, if you’re a fan of seamless city commuting, you might want to consider these figures.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Paula Soler, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and music by Alexandre Jas.

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