In the first ever year devoted to European Union’s external actions and Europe’s role in the world, the 21st issue of VOICE Out Loud deals with the European Year for Development. This issue invites our NGO members to highlight humanitarian issues where they consider the importance of longer-term action crucial. We also hear about EU’s role at a global level in the 2015 UN summits, the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit and the EU humanitarian budget. Finally, the Ukrainian crisis is discussed in terms of difficulties encountered in reaching the most vulnerable and the consequences of instability.