16/09/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 16 September, the European Commission announced the deployment of eight fire-fighting aircraft in response to Portugal’s request for assistance under the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. Six come from France, Italy and Spain, including some “from the RescEU reserve”, and two from Greece, the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said on X. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, thanked these Member States “for their rapid reaction” and was pleased to see “European solidarity”. On Monday, Portugal had around twenty active fires in its territory. The country has been placed on alert due to the risk of further fires. Around thirty Canadair and Portuguese water-bombing helicopters and more than 2,300 fire-fighters were already mobilised. (FS)