Press Release: Gas dispute: EU activates civil protection mechanism in gas deprived Moldova during crisis

The European Commission activated its Community Mechanism for Civil Protection at the request of the Republic of Moldova, to help the local population affected by the gas disruption during the ongoing dispute between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Assistance is being provided by Austrian authorities in the form of large capacity heaters and electrical generators which will arrive today in Chisinau. The European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism was triggered at the request of the Moldovan authorities on Friday, the 9th of January 2008.