{"id":54294,"date":"2022-09-23T15:07:38","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T19:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/pardeeschool\/?p=54294"},"modified":"2022-10-26T14:26:31","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T18:26:31","slug":"cse-hosts-lecture-with-eu-commissioner-for-crisis-management-janez-lenarcic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/pardeeschool\/2022\/09\/23\/cse-hosts-lecture-with-eu-commissioner-for-crisis-management-janez-lenarcic\/","title":{"rendered":"CSE Hosts Lecture with EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenar\u010di\u010d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Janez<\/a>
Janez Lenar\u010di\u010d, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, discusses the war in Ukraine and how it exacerbates global humanitarian crises during a Center for the Study of Europe event on September 23, 2022. (Source: Pardee School)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[Updated October 20, 2022] <\/strong>On September 23, 2022, the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies’ Center for the Study of Europe (CSE) hosted European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenar\u010di\u010d for a lecture on the war in Ukraine and Europe’s response to global humanitarian crises.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The event, titled “Responding to a Perfect Storm of Crises in Ukraine and Beyond: A European Perspective,” was part of CSE’s Europe in the World Series and sponsored by the Jean Monnet Chair. Ambassador Vesko Gar\u010devi\u0107<\/a>, Pardee School Professor of the Practice of International Relations, moderated the session.<\/p>\n

In his remarks, Lenar\u010di\u010d spoke about the war in Ukraine as well as its impacts on global humanitarian efforts. According to him, the “perfect storm” of global crises – conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic – has created an explosion of humanitarian needs around the world and stretched existing resources to the breaking point. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lenar\u010di\u010d said that there were 170 million people in need of humanitarian assistance around the world. After two years, that number increased by 30%. Today that figure stands at 280 million and it is expected to surpass 300 million before the end of 2022.<\/p>\n

With this increased demand for aid – from Ukraine and other struggling areas – how can the international community more effectively respond? Lenar\u010di\u010d argued that there are three main actions that should be taken to strengthen global humanitarian efforts.<\/p>\n

First, international humanitarian law must be upheld and bolstered. Lenar\u010di\u010d stated that most of the misery in the world and the need for humanitarian aid stems from conflict (at least 80%). What the world is seeing in Ukraine is a clear breach of humanitarian law and the rules of war, which has amplified the need for aid greatly.<\/p>\n

Second, the world needs improved multilateralism. The United Nations (UN) is currently hampered by the war in Ukraine because the perpetrator of the crisis – Russia – holds a seat on the UN security council and can veto any action the body takes. Well-endowed countries need to come together in support of countries in crisis because the international order that the UN and similar bodies represent is under attack and must be defended.<\/p>\n

Third, the pool of donors for humanitarian aid needs to be broadened. Lenar\u010di\u010d stated that the United States, European Commission, and Germany currently comprise 2\/3 of global humanitarian funding. With aid requests continuing to rise, this current funding model is not sustainable. There is a desperate need for other countries to share in these crises because, whether they like it or not, their impact is felt around the world.<\/p>\n

A recording of the lecture can be viewed below or on the CSE YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n