The EU will stand next to Greece says European Commissioner Christos Stylianidis

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The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Crisis Management and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianidis, in a statement to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) announced that the EU will provide financial support to Greece for the purchase of firefighting aircraft in the future, as well as for the healing of the wounds from the last major and devastating fires, mainly in eastern Attica.

Stylianidis visited the Fire Department in Chalandri, where he was informed about the tragedy by the Alternate Minister of Citizen Protection, Nikos Toskas.
“The European Union will stand next to the Greek people,” Stylianidis said and added: “We should now focus on healing wounds. The EU, through my presence here, demonstrates tangible European solidarity, but what interests the Greek citizen is to see in practice how the EU will help. It will be ready to help if necessary through the Civil Protection Mechanism, but it will also help in healing wounds.”
Regarding the assistance on the next day of the disaster, the European Commissioner has clarified that this can be done through several funds, but it is a matter of handling by the Greek government in coordination with the European Commission.
However, what he considers to be of great importance is the enormous interest shown by all EU countries and even non-member countries, after Greece’s activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, because this shows the change of EU attitude on the issue of cooperation.
Stylianidis expressed his optimism that the creation of a European firefighting fleet and a common European Civil Protection Mechanism through the RescEU program will have been made EU law by October-November, in an effort to support mainly the countries of European southern that are particularly affected by the severe impacts of climate change.
He explained that these planes will be parked in stations close to the areas most affected by fires and will be available directly to countries in need in times of crisis. As part of this change of planning, funding will also be included to strengthen national fleets and upgrade civil protection.

Source: ANA-MPA