The European Union has activated the Civil Protection Mechanism to help Italian authorities deal with severe flooding.
This is stated in the statement of the European Commission.
The request for help comes after severe weather in Italy has caused floods and landslides in recent days, with the north-central Emilia-Romagna region particularly affected.
On May 21, the Italian authorities activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The request for assistance concerns heavy-duty pumping equipment from the European Civil Protection Pool.
The EU mobilized proposals for pumping equipment from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
The EU Emergency Response Coordination Center is in constant contact with the Italian authorities, who are currently evaluating the proposals, and the EU stands ready to provide further assistance if needed.
The EU's Copernicus service also provided satellite mapping of the affected areas at the request of the Italian civil protection authority on 16 May.