24/05/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 24 May, the European Commission announced that the EU has activated its civil protection mechanism at the request of the World Health Organisation, and is already supplying medical equipment to help the Democratic Republic of Congo contain the spread of the Ebola virus. "France and Norway have offered medical teams and personnel to be dispatched immediately to the affected areas", European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides stated. Experts from the European Commission's civil protection and humanitarian aid operations department (ECHO) are also being dispatched on the ground. This assistance is added to the emergency humanitarian aid announced last week (see EUROPE 12023). The Commission has also decided to bring its co-financing to 85% (from 55%) for the transport expenses of the countries providing aid. (AN)