As work continues to prevent and limit fires throughout southern Europe, the Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Adja Lampib, is visiting Athens today and tomorrow. It will have discussions on the efforts of the European Union (EU) to prevent, readiness and reaction to forest fires, as well as the future of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Today, the Commissioner met with the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ioannis Kefalogiannis and visited the Single Coordinating Center for Business and Crisis Management of Greece. He also visited the air base that hosts two aircraft from the EU Fire Fire, the Resceu, and will meet with the chairman of the Committee on European Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament, Yiannis Plakiotakis. Tomorrow, Commissioner Lambib will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He will then participate in the ceremony for the delivery of about 100 fire trucks in Greece, which are partially funded by the EU. It will also meet the Czech firefighters pre -established in Greece this summer, as part of the groups developed under the EU.

Commissioner Lampib said: “The period of forest fires in Europe has become more prolonged, more intense and less predictable. We must continue to join forces in order to be better prepared and equipped to tackle forest fires and other emergencies. Greece is taking this challenge very seriously, as is the EU. I am glad that our civil protection cooperation remains as close as ever, and I look forward to continuing to work together in the future. “

Since the start of this year’s firefighting season, Greece has been actively responding to firefighters’ requests transmitted through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Only in July, it once provided Albania support and twice to Northern Macedonia, with both the re -activations of the RESCEU.

Athena Papakosta