Helping to meet Haiti's humanitarian, reconstruction and nation-building needs must be the EU's priority in tackling the earthquake's aftermath, the European Parliament said in a resolution approved on February 10 2010.

The resolution, adopted with 648 votes in favour, one against and 33 abstentions, also calls for a two-year temporary moratorium on new adoptions of children from Haiti, as well as for an EU Civil Protection Force

"A comprehensive assessment is needed to identify short and long term needs of the population and EU's engagement in the reconstruction process," according to the resolution, which voices the European Parliament's sympathy and solidarity with Haiti's people.

To further improve the EU's ability to help deal with similar situations in future, the European Commission should present an evaluation of the European response to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti as soon as possible, according to the resolution.

A European Parliament media statement said that MEPs are most concerned about the welfare of the vulnerable, particularly children and women, while the latter should be fully involved in the reconstruction efforts.

The European Parliament is in favour "of a temporary moratorium on new adoptions of children from Haiti for up to two years after tracing efforts have begun."

Unaccompanied and separated children should be provided with services aimed at reuniting them with their parents or customary care-givers as quickly as possible, the resolution said.

Given the risk of human trafficking incidents, the international community should urgently assess whether a co-ordinated plan is needed to deal with the thousands of children left orphaned by the earthquake, MEPs said.

The European Parliament calls on the European Commission to present proposals as soon as possible to establish an EU Civil Protection Force, which will allow the EU to pull together all the means necessary to deliver humanitarian emergency aid within 24 hours following a catastrophe.
 
As Haiti is saddled with a foreign debt estimated at $1 billion, the European Parliament said that it welcomed the decision by the G7 to cancel Haiti's international debt and expects all countries and international donors, including the IMF to do likewise. 

Any emergency earthquake assistance should be  provided in the form of grants, not debt-incurring loans, MEPs said.