27/10/2017 (Agence Europe) – Boosting the EU civil protection mechanism of the EU is central to the discussions in Rome (26-28 October) between European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides and the Italian authorities. The commissioner has been asked by the president of the European Commission to present a proposal on the matter (see EUROPE 11888). “Italy plays a strong and constructive role in crisis response at European level. It is a country that knows all too well the impact of natural disasters”, the commissioner said on Friday 27 October. He met the head Italian civil protection, Angelo Borrelli, Foreign Affairs Minister Angelino Alfano and Interior Minister Marco Minniti, before attending an international conference on the role of humanitarian organisations in protecting the civilian population in warfare. (AN)