14/10/2016 (Agence Europe) – In solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that hit Italy on 24 August, the sum of almost €50,000 collected by European Commission officials was presented to the Italian authorities on Friday 14 October, during a ceremony in Brussels organised at the Commission. Vice-President of the Commission Kristalina Georgieva gave Italian Secretary of State for European affairs Sandro Gozi two cheques, for which Gozi expressed his gratitude to the Commission personnel. A sum of €26,750.81 was collected through a benevolent initiative organised at the Commission canteen, in partnership with catering companies (Ciano, Eurest and Unijoy). The money will go to the Italian Red Cross. Another sum of €20,948.11 was collected directly from European civil servants, which will go to reconstruction projects in the destroyed villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto. The earthquake left 296 people dead and 400 injured. (AN)