08/04/2019 (Agence Europe) – European Commissioner Christos Stylianides participated on Monday, 8 April in 'CresModex2019’, a major joint civil protection exercise in Europe to test the effectiveness of the EU's coordinated response to a major forest fire on the island of Cres (Croatia). This exercise, deliberately organised before the fire season, mobilised civil protection experts and rescue teams from seven Member States - Croatia, Austria, Bulgaria, Spain, France, Greece and Italy - with success, according to the Commissioner. Through his Twitter account, he said he was "truly impressed by the high quality of #CresModex2019", stressing the importance of sharing experience and using drones in this exercise. Together with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, he discussed ‘RescEU' the EU's enhanced civil protection mechanism to be operational this year (see EUROPE 12192/3). (AN)