Stranded in the Gulf: the EU’s plans to evacuate citizens

Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Romania, France, Luxembourg and Czechia have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism – the bloc’s crisis tool that provides logistical support, expertise and EU co-financing for evacuation flights.

Seven flights from the affected region have so far been organised under the scheme. For security reasons, the Commission declined to disclose routes, but estimates that hundreds of thousands of EU citizens remain in the wider region. “The situation is fluid and changing every hour,” Hrnčířová said.

Under the mechanism, Brussels can reimburse up to 75% of member states’ transport costs, provided at least 30% of seats are made available to citizens from other EU countries. So far, Germany, France, Slovakia, Belgium, Poland and Czechia have also launched their own national evacuation plans.

Alternatively, the EU can charter aircraft directly under its RescEU reserve. Passenger lists are being compiled using data from EU delegations and national consulates in the region.

More member states are expected to activate the mechanism in the coming days as European embassies grapple with the a rapidly deteriorating security situation.