Sweden receives the biggest EU aid effort

Two French and two Italian firefighters are currently bombing Swedish firefighters.

At the same time, two planes are en route from Portugal. Five German helicopters, one Lithuanian and eight Norwegians also contribute. In addition, about 130 Polish, 53 German and 60 French firemen are in place with their associated equipment. Since the weekend, 60 Danish firefighters have also been involved in forest fire suppression work.

The largest relief effort ever made

All MSB interventions are routed through the Emergency Response Coordination Center. According to the European Commission, it is the largest joint aid operation of the EU. And it is the first time in history that Sweden receives so much help from abroad.

ERCC is a 24-hour assistance center that monitors all major crises in the world. EU members as well as a number of other European countries, including Norway and Iceland, have pledged to cooperate. Countries are committed to helping as much as possible. But there are no binding agreements – they can always refuse to get up.

– In the end, if a country has its own national crisis, a country can say that we can not or can not send something, says Patrik Jansson.

Sweden Settles

It is far more common that Sweden belongs to the countries that create and help others. Most often, Swedish aid is intended for major crises around the world, which are also channeled activities through the ERCC. But even when, for example, Greece has suffered forest fires, Sweden has shown itself ready to help.

The European Commission arrived last November with a proposal to establish a common EU Civil Protection Reserve, including owned aircraft. The idea is that, if this becomes reality, the effort will be able to strengthen the system when there are several natural disasters at the same time and that the voluntary efforts are insufficient.