The EU has deployed assistance to Belgium and Spain following their activation of the EU civil protection mechanism the usual level in Europe.

Through the UCPM, countries can rapidly draw on a much wider pool of firefighters, aircraft and other emergency capacities when national resources come under pressure. The European Commission’s emergency response coordination centre is at the centre of this system: it receives requests for assistance, coordinates offers from Member States and participating states, and supports the deployment of the capacities offered. The Commission also co-finances the deployments.