It is a great pleasure to be with you today. I have long looked forward to attending this ECHO Townhall. Its wonderful to see the entire ECHO family together, here in Brussels and online from over forty offices worldwide.

I want to start by saying “thank you.” Thank you for welcoming me warmly into the ECHO family and for all your hard work. Your personal support means a lot to me.

Today, I look forward to meeting more of you and hearing your ideas. Dont be shy.

The European Union holds a unique place in the world, not just for our power, but for our principles. Our strength lies in our willingness to help others with solidarity, compassion, and shared humanity. We must protect and carry forward that spirit together. If we lose this, we lose ourselves.

The world looks to us for these values. I have seen it during my travels as a journalist, Foreign Minister, and now as Commissioner. We must defend them. They must be our guiding stars in a darker and more ruthless world. How can we do that?

First, we must continue our strong and principled humanitarian aid. It saves lives and is a strategic necessity. I share your deep concern about cuts to aid programs. This is the wrong direction. Reducing support will not solve the crises but will only worsen them.

I have seen firsthand what the European Union does to help people who have lost everything. For those in war, for the displaced, for women and girls, and for children who have spent their entire lives in camps.

We offer a spark of hope in the darkness. That should never be underestimated.

As needs grow and the funding gap increases, others must do their fair share. International humanitarian law must always and everywhere be our compass, and we must defend it with full force. Our Humanitarian Forum in a few weeks will be a key moment to build global cooperation for the challenges ahead.

Second, we must tackle increasing fragility in the world. We urgently need to develop a comprehensive and integrated EU approach. This is the only way to respond effectively to crises while addressing the underlying causes of fragility and conflict. Humanitarian aid alone is not enough.

If we want to support people where they live, we need a more united, strategic, and systematic approach, coupled with a long-term vision. We need our Member States on board, working as one Team Europe.

Third, we must be better prepared for todays and tomorrows threats. “Ready together. Safer together. Prepared together.” This should be our motto going forward.

Todays threats are increasing, so our preparedness must also increase. We need to think big. That is precisely what our new Preparedness Strategy does. The EU is forging a new culture of preparedness – detecting threats earlier, acting faster, and strengthening our defenses. We are getting everyone on board – governments, the private sector, citizens, and volunteers – to create a network of protection across our continent.

Our Union Civil Protection Mechanism is our shield of solidarity, both at home and beyond our borders, saving lives and protecting communities. They must be strengthened for the challenges ahead. I know you are working hard on this, and we will deliver.

This ECHO Townhall once again shows me what makes Team ECHO so special: your big heart, your commitment to helping others, and your belief in a safer, better-prepared Europe.

I want to thank each of you again. You inspire me every day. I am proud to work alongside you for a Europe that believes in solidarity, compassion, and human dignity. Our mission is right, and lets never forget, we have millions of allies out there. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming European Humanitarian Forum.