On 19 October 2026, H.E. Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, met with Mr. Maciej Popowski, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).

Both sides exchanged views on the humanitarian situation in the region and explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in humanitarian assistance, the promotion of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and disaster preparedness and management. They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in humanitarian assistance through both bilateral and ASEAN frameworks, particularly through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).

DG ECHO is part of the European Commission and plays a key role in providing humanitarian assistance worldwide. Its Regional Office in Bangkok covers the Asia-Pacific region. Thailand and DG ECHO have a longstanding partnership in disaster management and humanitarian assistance, reflecting their shared commitment to addressing humanitarian needs and strengthening disaster resilience. In December 2025, the EU provided humanitarian assistance to Thailand in response to flooding in Songkhla Province.