So, Good afternoon.

I want to start with a very simple message,

and this is a message for all of you here at my side, but also in the background. It's a big message of thank you.

Dear Commissioner, dear Director General, to the staff from the ERCC and ECHO,

thank you for being here when Europe needs you most.

As you've said, and I've learned a lot in this hour here, day and night, so 24/7, weekends and holidays,

whenever a crisis strikes, the team is there,

the work you do protects people, and most importantly, it saves lives.

When a country asks for help, within hours, that call becomes action.

Aircrafts take off, firefighters we've heard it cross immediately the borders,

and Copernicus is mapping and reaching responders on the ground.

What we've seen today and what is being lived here in the ERCC every day is European solidarity in action.

This summer has shown again how much Europe relies on you.

The wildfire season started, as you said, exceptionally early in late April,

and it has put national reservists, Under enormous pressure.

Since April, the Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated 10 times for wildfires in 8 different countries,

sometimes with several happenings at the same time.

Indeed, what I have seen here, what I know is your daily experience,

the principle is when the national capacities are stretched,

Europe steps in, you can count on Europe.

Firefighting aircraft we've heard it, helicopters, the ground teams with all the expertise,

the vehicles, the satellites, all this is needed, all is mobilized across our continent.

And because every single moment counts in an emergency, we're acting before the worst fires happen.

Another figure that impressed me was that 800 firefighters were prepositioned in high risk areas,

so they stand ready to reinforce the local teams from the very first critical hours on with all their expertise.

Now over the summer, teams from 25 countries were deployed from member states and partner countries,

and very impressive for the very first time.

This also included, Firefighters from Ukraine that were helping here in the European Union. Rescue teams have worked heroically.

And some tragically lost their lives while bravely protecting others. We honor the courage. We honor their service. Their memory will stay with us.

And of course it will inspire our action moving forward.

The work of the center goes far beyond the fires and far beyond Europe.

I was impressed to hear that when, for example, there was the Hunter virus outbreak on a ship,

you prepared the repatriation flights and you mobilized medical evacuation services.

As the quake hit in Venezuela,

you coordinated the deployment of 750 responders and experts from 18 countries.

When Colombia was struck by an earthquake, Europe provided tents, water filters and essential supplies,

as well as the so important expertise on the ground.

And after the devastating floods in Nepal just last week, we saw the images from Copernicus.

You immediately supported the response and we immediately had also the images from the Copernicus mapping. Fires, earthquakes, floods, health emergency, hybrid attacks. You name it.

Each crisis is different and each crisis needs a specific response.

But most important is the overarching principle that when help is needed, you can count on Europe.

And these crises also paint a bigger picture. The risks around us are changing.

They're becoming more frequent, more complex, more severe.

We see changing global climate patterns that are adding to this volatility.

Around the world we see higher temperatures and disrupted rainfall.

And very important, what I learned also here today is that for emergency services,

This is not an abstract warning about the future.

It is already changing the emergencies they are facing today.

Extreme events happen more often in more places and at the same time.

And therefore The center has shown time and again that Europe can respond when a crisis strikes,

but that we also must learn from every single crisis.

And we must turn these lessons into action so that we can adapt faster,

strengthen prevention, and act before an emergency turns into a disaster.

Our civil protection mechanism is pooling and sharing this expertise.

And the emergency capabilities when one country comes under pressure.

We step in Because as Europe we are greater than the sum of our parts,

and this is what this center shows on an everyday basis.

I thank you very much for presenting me the essence of this center.

Of course, the time was way too short to speak enough and to, to see enough,

but it's for me also a very important preparation for the State of the Union.

And therefore I thank you for giving me the time, sharing with me all your expertise and your knowledge.

And from the bottom of my heart, Europe is grateful for what you're doing. Thank you very much. Thank you.