BRUSSELS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has decided to deliver assistance to Israel through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to contain the spread of devastating wildfires at the request of Israel, the bloc said Friday.
Substantial assistance has been offered via the Mechanism. Spain will shortly send four fire-fighting airplanes, and France has offered two fire-fighting airplanes as well as one investigation airplane.
In addition, bilateral support from Italy and Cyprus will be channeled through Mechanism, concerning the return trip of the fire-fighting airplanes.
The European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC) is coordinating assistance through the Mechanism, which can be activated by a member state or a country outside the EU when it is overwhelmed by a natural or man-made disaster.
The European Commission coordinates the voluntary offers made by participating states though the Mechanism, and can co-finance the transport of relief items and experts to the country in question.
