Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
  Slovenia and Cyprus have activated the civil protection mechanism of the European Union due to floods and forest fires affecting these countries. According to a statement issued by the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, the statement added that in response to Slovenia's request to help deal with flood damage, France has sent two excavators with units engineering, and Germany will send two well-made bridges, excavators and personnel. The European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping has so far produced several maps of the affected areas, and the liaison officer from the European Union's Emergency Response Coordination Center is already on site. According to the Slovenian authorities, this is the worst case of flooding ever recorded in the country in recent history. Casualties have been confirmed, and thousands have had to leave their homes to escape floods, while severe weather conditions continue and rivers are overflowing across the country.
The European statement also said that, following a request by Cyprus to assist the country in fighting the devastating fires on the island, the European Union mobilized two Canadian firefighting aircraft from the European Union's civil protection complex stationed in Greece. Greece also sent 20 tons of liquid retarders through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism. The European Union is ready to mobilize more assistance for both countries.
Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said: “Following devastating floods in Slovenia and relentless forest fires in Cyprus, the European Union is working around the clock to direct emergency assistance. I thank Germany and France for their prompt response and I call on the entire European civil protection community to respond to this colossal disaster.” We are also ready to mobilize the full range of EU recovery and support tools. I would also like to thank Greece for its immediate emergency assistance for the forest fires in Cyprus. This is EU solidarity at its best."