The European Commission on Tuesday announced that it was activating a system for European countries to help Greece and Albania battle ongoing wildfires.

At a press conference on Tuesday, a commission spokesman said the support to Greece includes: two planes from Italy, two helicopters from France and Serbia, and ground firefighting crews from the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Romania and Serbia. Romanian, Maltese and Moldovan firefighters were already in Greece, the spokesman said.

According to a commission statement, Albania will receive a military plane from Romania capable of carrying 6 tons of water. The plane will be deployed on Wednesday, the commission said.

Serbia and Moldova are not in the EU, but along with Albania and several others, they participate in the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, which responds to such disasters.

A firefighter extinguishes a large fire, just a few kilometers northeast of Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpaA firefighter extinguishes a large fire, just a few kilometers northeast of Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa

Firefighters try to extinguish pockets of embers in the blaze near Athens. Hundreds of firefighters, supported by dozens of water-dropping planes and helicopters, continued their battle against the flames of the blaze in the north of Athens this morning. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpaFirefighters try to extinguish pockets of embers in the blaze near Athens. Hundreds of firefighters, supported by dozens of water-dropping planes and helicopters, continued their battle against the flames of the blaze in the north of Athens this morning. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa

Firefighters try to extinguish pockets of embers in the blaze near Athens. Hundreds of firefighters, supported by dozens of water-dropping planes and helicopters, continued their battle against the flames of the blaze in the north of Athens this morning. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa



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