European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid

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European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid is a member of the European Commission. The post is currently held by Commissioner Louis Michel (ALDE)

The portfolio deals with promoting sustainable development in deprived regions (such as ACP countries and the EU's OCTs) and the distribution of aid; the European Commission is the largest supplier of humanitarian aid in the world.

[edit] Current commissioner

After the Israeli-Lebanese conflict in 2006 the Commissioner visited Lebanon and called for €30 million to repair the damage there. The Parliament's development committee was cautious though about the expenditure and he was also criticised for his slow response with one MEP comparing him to "a fireman who arrives at the scene after the fire has gone out". In the same debate MEPs attacked the Commissioner for "appearing partial in the Congolese elections" in describing Joseph Kabila as "the hope of Congo". Michel responded by saying he would have said the same about any candidate in the democratic elections. [1]

Louis Michel has caused some mild controversy in 2007 among MEPs when it became known that he is to take leave from his work to compete in Belgian elections. Generally Commissioners are meant to remain above national politics and the European Parliament's development committee asked the Parliament's legal service to assess if his participation violates the treaties. [2] During his absence (12 May 2007 onwards), Commissioner Rehn will take over his duties.

His head of cabinet is Sabine Weyand, deputy head; Koen Doens and spokesperson; Amadeu Altafaj-Tardio.

[edit] List of commissioners

	Name	Period	Country	European Commission
1	Robert Lemaignen	1958-1962	France	Hallstein Commission
2	Henri Rochereau	1962-1970	France	Hallstein Commission, Rey Commission
3	Jean-François Deniau	1967-1973	France	Rey Commission, Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission
4	Claude Cheysson	1973-1981	France	Ortoli Commission, Jenkins Commission, Thorn Commission
5	Edgard Pisani	1981-1985	France	Thorn Commission
6	Lorenzo Natali	1985-1989	Italy	Delors Commission I
7	Manuel Marin	1989-1995	Spain	Delors Commission II & III
8	João de Deus Pinheiro	1995-1999	Portugal	Santer Commission
9	Poul Nielson	1999-2004	Denmark	Prodi Commission
10	Joe Borg	2004	Malta	Prodi Commission
11	Louis Michel	2004-present	Belgium	Barroso Commission