(Brussels) “Several areas in Italy, including some of the towns that had already been hit by the devastating earthquake of last August, have been hit by an earthquake again. The EU fully sympathises with the Italian population and authorities”. From the headquarters of the Brussels Executive, Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Crises and Humanitarian Aids, is following what is happening in Central Italy. “Our thoughts – he adds – go to all the affected people and to the first rescuers who have gone there”. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the European Commission, “which monitors natural disasters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, has been in touch with the Italian Civil Defence service since last night. At the request of the Italian authorities, the Copernicus system, i.e. the EU emergency management service, has already been set off to provide satellite maps of the damage suffered by the affected areas. We will keep closely monitoring the situation, and we are ready to provide further assistance”.