BRUSSELS - "The EU stands in full solidarity with Italy after the recent deadly floods: we stand ready to provide further assistance to the Italian people at this difficult time." This was announced via Twitter by the European Commission, publishing an overview of the affected areas in Emilia-Romagna. After the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, now two teams for pumping high-capacity water from Slovakia and Slovenia are at work in Ravenna. Further help was offered by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Poland and Romania.
The European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, wrote about the support provided by other countries on Twitter. "I called the head of the European civil protection team sent to Romagna to thank him: with the mayor Michele De Pascale the dewatering machines of the Slovenian and Slovak teams are at work right now for Ravenna", he said. Last Sunday, Italy activated the civil protection mechanism requesting emergency support for the floods that hit Emilia-Romagna. So far, nine EU countries have responded to the call by sending high-capacity pumping teams and equipment.