ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΕ: ΕΞΕΛΙΞΕΙΣ ΣΤΟ ΠΕΔΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΦΥΓΙΚΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΣΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΚΛΗΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΕ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ

56 EU Solidarity in managing migration flows through ECHO in Greece 3/2016-3/2019 et al.) 40 . This gap was further acknowledged by the European Council, in Febru- ary 2016: “ although an extensive series of proposals was tabled to equip Mem- ber States with the tools necessary to reduce the large number of arrivals and to manage them, as well as to address the root causes of migration and to pro- vide humanitarian aid in conflict-ridden areas and to refugees in neighboring host countries, and whilst waiting for these measures to become fully effective, the European Union needs to move to new areas ” …. [as] “immediate and exceptional additional coordinated action is required in order to complement and support the Member States’ response and ensure that the EU can avert a full-blown humani- tarian tragedy within its borders” 41 . In this context, on 19 February 2016, the European Council called for urgent ac- tion and concrete proposals from the Commission to “ put in place the capacity for the EU to provide humanitarian assistance internally, in cooperation with organi- zations such as the UNHCR, to support countries facing large numbers of refugees and migrants, building on the experience of the EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department”. Within fifteen days, the Council adopted Regulation 2016/369 42 - acting upon a proposal by the Commission - on the establishment of an emergency support op- eration designated for major disasters within the EU. The objective of the pro- posed Regulation was to lay down measures which would allow the Union to pro- vide emergency financial support for urgently needed life-saving and humanitar- ian relief operations within the EU, so as to cover the costs of emergency response operations directly related to the ongoing migration and refugee crisis. Support included all assistance, relief and protection operations aimed at preserving life, alleviating suffering and safeguarding human dignity. Such operations would, for instance, encompass the provision of basic relief items, health, education and protection services, shelter material and related services, water and sanitation, or other types of urgently needed relief (p.3) 43 . For a “time and cost effective” delivery of the financial assistance mentioned in article 122 (2) TFEU, to support a member state, the European Commission decided to build on the solid experience 40 . See explanation presented by the Commission three years after the activation of ESI, during an internal Evaluation of the operation of Regulation (EU) 2016/369 on the provision of emergency support in the Union, Final Report, November 2018. 41. Council Conclusions of 19 February 2016, EUCO 1/16. 42. On the need to adopt the Regulation, see the European Commission, Communication from the Commission to the Council accompanying the proposal for the Emergency Support within the EU, Brussels, 2.3.2016 COM(2016) 116 final. 43. In three years support included 29 projects -Funds included Shelter 273 million euros, basic needs and assistance 122 million, protection 109, health 32, food security 29, education 25, coordination 25, WASH 21, nutrition 1 million, disaster risk reduction 0,5].