Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA)

The Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid discusses the EU's humanitarian strategies and policies, as well as its response to humanitarian crises. Its work is guided by the European Consensus on humanitarian aid, the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and international humanitarian law (IHL).

The working party:

monitors humanitarian needs resulting from man-made and natural disasters outside the EU

ensures the coherence and coordination of the EU's collective response to these crises

discusses international, horizontal and sectorial humanitarian policies

promotes the Consensus, the humanitarian principles and IHL

This Council working party (nr. C.32) examines the legislative proposals by the European Commission in its field of expertise that are sent to the Council of Ministers. This body is composed of experts from each member state and is chaired by the delegate of the country holding the rotating six-month presidency of the Council. After examination the proposals will be forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) i.