EU Lends Support as Greece and Albania Battle Wildfires

Brussels, 13 Aug (ONA) --- The European Commission today announced that it was activating a system for European countries to help Greece and Albania battle ongoing wildfires.

At a press conference held today, a commission spokesman said the support to Greece includes: two planes from Italy, two helicopters from France and Serbia, and ground firefighting crews from the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Romania and Serbia. Romanian, Maltese and Moldovan firefighters were already in Greece, the spokesman added.

According to a commission statement, Albania will receive a military plane from Romania capable of carrying 6 tons of water. The plane will be deployed tomorrow (Wednesday), the commission said.

Serbia and Moldova are not in the EU, but along with Albania and several others, they participate in the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism, which responds to such disasters.

--- Ends/Khalid