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Slovenia will help North Macedonia in firefighting

by AI | 16.Jul 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Slovenia will assist North Macedonia, which is dealing with extensive fires, with two helicopters through the EU mechanism.

Military helicopter of the Slovenian Army Eurocopter AS AL 532 Cougar. Photo: Katja Kodba/STA

Ljubljana/Brussels – The Slovenian government decided on Monday to provide assistance to North Macedonia in the form of two helicopters due to the consequences of extensive fires. They are to be sent to North Macedonia via the EU civil protection mechanism today, for a period of five days.

Slovenia will send the AS AL 532 Cougar helicopter of the Slovenian army and the Agusta Westland AW police helicopter to this Western Balkan country.

The total value of the deployment, according to the Government Communications Office, amounts to up to 400,000 euros, with the European Commission reimbursing 75 percent of the costs of moving the helicopters to and from North Macedonia.

Skopje requested assistance via the EU civil protection mechanism due to extensive fires in the natural environment on Monday. European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič wrote on the X network that Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey will collectively send four helicopters and two airplanes to North Macedonia.

According to the Macedonian Crisis Center, 173 major fires in nature have been recorded in the country since the beginning of July. They estimate that they will continue to spread due to weather conditions. (July 16)