The European Commission is pushing for international donors to hold a conference quickly to coordinate aid to countries hit by a tsunami that has killed more than 80,000 across Asia, a spokesman said today.
The Commission, which has donated €33 million to victims of the disaster, wants to see the United Nations take a leading role in a conference.
"We would like to see the UN taking a prominent role. As the European Commission we would like to see the EU as a promoter of the initiative," said spokesman Mr Amadeu Altafaj.
Mr Louis Michel, European Commissioner responsible for humanitarian aid, first aired the idea of a donors' conference today and since then the European Union executive has been seeking the backing of EU governments.
"Discussions are going on actively," mr Altafaj said, adding the conference should be held as soon as possible.
In addition to donors, he said the International Monetary Fund and World Bank should also attend the conference, which may consider German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's proposal for a debt moratorium for tsunami-hit nations Indonesia and Somalia.
Earlier today, French President Jacques Chirac said he was favourable to a moratorium on debt, while Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said his government is also considering offering debt relief.
Luxembourg, which is taking over the rotating presidency of the EU on January 1st, is already looking into the possibility of a meeting of EU development ministers in early January to coordinate the EU aid effort.
The Commission, the executive arm of the 25-nation EU, has already released €3 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and is ready to release another €30 million.
Of this, €10 million has been earmarked for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, another €10 million to Indonesia with the remaining €10 million ready to finance further requests made to the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) by aid agencies.
The Dutch EU presidency said yesterday the EU was ready to contribute more as it became clearer what aid was
US President George Bush said yesterday he was open to all requests for aid, including Germany's plan.