Brussels, 28/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU has come, successfully, to the aid of member states from the south of Europe struggling to control forest fires, the European Commission said on Monday 27 July. The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and the Community civil protection system, both brought into action as soon as the forest fires appeared, have ensured that the situation has been constantly monitored and the response has been effectively coordinated. “The situation is under control. In France, the four fires have been extinguished. In Italy and in Greece, it looks as though the fires are being brought under control. In Spain, a few fires are still burning, but Portugal has sent help,” said Barbara Helfferich, spokeswoman for Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.
EFFIS, which was set up by the Joint Research Centre and the European Commission (DG Environment) provides online information on threats and a daily bulletin on the situation for the whole of Europe (http: //effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/current-situation). The Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), which is based in DG Environment, is pivotal to the Community civil protection system, and is responsible for coordinating offers of assistance (civil protection teams, helicopters, fire-fighting aircraft, etc.). (A.N./transl.rt)