Esteemed Guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

 

Its a pleasure to welcome you to this fourth European Humanitarian Forum, co-hosted by the Polish Presidency.

 

This is my first Forum as European Commissioner, and I have been looking forward to it.

 

Dear friends,

 

My message is simple: the European Union remains a strong humanitarian partner.

 

We stand with you, our committed humanitarian family.

 

We all share a commitment to help over 305 million people in need.

 

For me, it is Farah, a young Syrian girl in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.

 

I remember her sad smile and dreams of becoming a judge or journalist.

 

In Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, I met a boy reflecting fear and pain.

 

In Adré, Chad, I met twin girls, victims of abuse, simply asking when they can return to school.

 

We are here today for them, as they need us more than ever.

 

We made a promise to people in need globally. The EU will always be there to provide support.

 

This will not change.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

This Forum takes place in a different world from last year.

 

More needs, fewer resources, severe cuts.

 

Millions need aid now due to war, climate change, hunger, and economic challenges.

 

But this will not stop us. We continue where the need is greatest.

 

We work based on principles, not politics.

 

We are present in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, Syria, and beyond.

 

We are committed to helping the most vulnerable in fragile contexts.

 

This Forum will contribute to developing an integrated EU approach to fragility.

 

We will also continue to advocate for stronger humanitarian diplomacy.

 

In the coming days, we will explore new ways to address fragility.

 

Conclusion

Dear friends,

 

In times of adversity, we are often forced to do things differently.

 

Today, I strongly believe we have the opportunity to make things better.

 

For humanitarians, this sometimes means making tough decisions.

 

But what will not change is our humanity and solidarity.

 

If we lose this, we lose ourselves.

 

And dear friends, we can only do this together.

 

Thank you for all you have done and will do.

 

Lets do all we can.

 

You can count on me and the European Union.

 

Welcome and thank you for being here.