The European Commission coordinates repatriation flights from the Middle East through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre has supported the organization of six repatriation flights for European citizens stranded in the Middle East, as more and more member states activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in light of recent developments in the region.

The European Commission coordinated the organization of six repatriation flights for European citizens stranded in the Middle East, through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, against the backdrop of recent developments in the region that led to the closure of some airports.

In short

ERCC supported the organization of six repatriation flights for European citizens to Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, and Slovakia.

Ten member states activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by March 5.

The states that activated the mechanism are Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, and Austria.

Other repatriation flights are planned in the coming days.

The EU can co-finance up to 75% of the costs of flights that offer seats to citizens of other member states.

In cases where no member state can organize the flight, the rescEU mechanism allows the Commission to cover 100% of the costs.

European citizens have been stranded in the region following the closure of some airports in the context of recent developments in Iran and the Middle East.

The European Commission announced that the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) has supported member states in organizing six repatriation flights for European citizens from the Middle East, under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The operation allowed for the safe return of citizens to Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, and Slovakia.

The European executive states that this action comes in response to recent developments in the region and is part of efforts to support member states in protecting European citizens stranded in the Middle East and bringing them back safely to Europe.

The Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, stated: "No European is ever alone in a crisis. Their safety always comes first. From day one, we have been fully mobilized to bring home the hundreds of thousands of Europeans stranded in the Middle East through our EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU stands by its people and will spare no effort to get them home safe and sound."

In the Romanian version of the statement, the message is rendered as follows: "No European is alone in a crisis. Their safety is always the top priority. Since day one, we have been fully mobilized to bring home the hundreds of thousands of Europeans stranded in the Middle East through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU stands by its citizens and will spare no effort to bring them home safely."

The Commission specifies that ERCC coordinates the logistics of the flights offered by member states and maintains constant contact with EU delegations and the consular authorities of member states in the region.

In addition to coordination, the European Union can contribute to the financing of flights. In particular, flights that offer seats to citizens of other member states than the one that activated the mechanism can benefit from European co-financing of up to 75% of eligible costs, provided that at least 30% of the seats are made available to citizens of other EU countries.

In situations where no member state can organize a flight for the evacuation of its own citizens, the Commission can use the rescEU mechanism to reserve aircraft, in which case the costs can be fully covered by the EU.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism allows any country in Europe or outside Europe to request emergency assistance. After the activation of the mechanism, the Commission coordinates the response and contributes to the transport and operational costs of repatriation operations. Following recent developments in Iran and the Middle East, EU citizens have been stranded in the affected countries, as well as in some areas of the Asia-Pacific and Africa, after the closure of some major airports, and member states have begun to request support for repatriation.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/comisia-europeana-coordoneaza-zboruri-de-repatriere-din-orientul-mijlociu-prin-mecanismul-de-protectie-civila-al-ue