Citizens' Dialogue in Ljubljana with Commissioner Christos Stylianides

Providing humanitarian aid worldwide is part of our European identity and is our commitment. It saves lives and gives hope

Commissioner Christos Stylianides

On 8 March 2019, Commissioner Stylianides met more than 100 students of political sciences, EU studies and international relations, experts, professors, NGOs and associations, and some individual citizens at the Faculty of Social Sciences for a Citizens’ Dialogue on “European Solidarity: Protecting and Saving Lives”.

The debate, moderated by Anja Hlača Ferjančič, journalist and radio host, touched upon several issues related to migration, humanitarian and development aid, civil protection and education.

Commissioner Stylianides kick-started the Dialogue by mentioning the International Women’s Day and how “we are all united behind one universal belief: the belief in equality. Regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion”. He added that keeping girls and women safe, especially in emergencies, “is a life-saving priority” because “women are the key to building resilient societies.”

The participants then took the floor and asked the Commissioner questions on EU humanitarian aid, such as how it is funded or if there is aid for the re-socialisation of child soldiers. Another participant wanted to know what Europe is doing regarding long-term aid, besides emergency aid for countries in danger or having suffered a catastrophe. Then there was a question on how successful cooperation with Islamic countries is in preventing extremism in fields such as education.

The discussion then turned to some of the big challenges Europe is facing: ageing populations, climate change and the situation of refugees in neighbouring countries such as Bosnia.

Mr. Doman Torkar, rescue coordinator of the Slovenia’s civil protection and rescue office, the local hero of the Commission’s EU Together we protect corporate campaign, was also present and briefly shared his EU solidarity experience in assisting in natural and humanitarian disasters in Slovenia and in the Balkans. Mr Torkar then asked, “As a practical person I would like to know how the decisions are taken and priorities given when we have parallel calamities?”

At the end of the Dialogue, participants were asked to express with one word only and via sli.do what the European elections mean to them.

The most mentioned words were: Future, Change, Democracy, Freedom and Hope.