Covid-19 emergency, China's aid to the European Union addressed to Italy
The goods delivered at Fiumicino airport in the presence of representatives of the EU, the Chinese Embassy in Italy and the Civil Protection Department
2 million surgical masks, 200,000 N95 masks, 50,000 test kits for Covid-19 have been provided by China and that the European Union allocated to the Italian health care system.
The delivery took place this morning in Fiumicino at the presence of the Head of the Representation in Italy of the European Commission, Vito Borrelli, the Councillor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Italy, Li Bin and the Director of the Civil Protection Department, Agostino Miozzo.
<<We appreciate Chinese support and, as stated by President Von der Leyen, it is by helping each other that we can help ourselves" said Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management. The EU and China have been working together since the beginning of the coronavirus emergency>>. Indeed, in February, more than 56 tonnes of equipment, including protective clothing, sanitizers and masks, were delivered to China through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia.
The operation through which the health equipment reached the Italian government this morning was managed through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), the hub of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism which coordinates the provision of assistance to disaster-affected countries in the form of relief, expertise, civil protection teams and specialised equipment.
ERCC ensures the rapid deployment of emergency support and acts as a coordination centre between all Member States and the six other Participating States, the affected country and civil protection and humanitarian aid experts. The centre is operational 24/7 and can assist any country inside or outside the EU affected by a major disaster at the request of national authorities or a UN body.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism strengthens cooperation between Member States and participating States in the field of civil protection, so as to improve disaster prevention, preparedness and response. Through the Mechanism, the European Commission plays a key role in coordinating disaster response in Europe and beyond.