Our work

National Red Cross Societies in the EU, the Norwegian Red Cross, and the Icelandic Red Cross form part of the world’s largest humanitarian network, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious belief, class or political opinion. Together, they gather well over 276,000 employees, and more than nine hundred thousand volunteers.

The Red Cross EU Office represents their interests, as well as those of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), towards the EU and its institutions.

Based on our members’ practical insights and technical experience, we promote the dignity and well-being of vulnerable people by facilitating and voicing common positions and recommendations towards the EU and Member States. We also scrutinise European developments that could impact the implementation of our members’ work, as well as supporting them to elaborate and coordinate joint proposals to access EU funding.

The Red Cross EU Office together with its members developed the Red Cross EU strategy 2022-2027 that describes the strategic direction, goals and priorities of the work we commit to undertaking in relation to our engagement with the EU institutions from 2022 to 2027.

Our objectives

1. To increase Red Cross influence on EU policy, legislation and practice so as to improve the humanitarian situation of the most vulnerable. 
2. To mobilise EU resources for our members’ domestic and international work in order to maximise their reach and scope through a coordinated approach.
3. To serve our members on EU-related issues by monitoring the legal framework, exchanging information and knowledge, and providing tailored capacity building and technical support.

Our key themes

Our activities span across the following key themes:

1. Humanitarian Aid
2. Civil Protection
3. Development Cooperation
4. Migration and Asylum
5. Social Services
6. Poverty and Social Exclusion

If you would like to learn more about our work or our members’ experience in these areas, please contact our team using the link below.

Meet our team 

Discover our members