Europe backs fire-stricken Greece

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6974577.stm

Version 0 of 1.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has toured parts of southern Greece destroyed by wild fires, promising aid to those affected.

Mr Barroso said Europe would do everything it could to support Greece as it rebuilds following its most devastating forest blazes in years.

The biggest fires are under control but some are still spreading on the Peloponnese peninsula.

The fires killed at least 63 people and destroyed more than 500 homes.

The Greek problem is a European problem... we must rebuild what has been destroyed Jose Manuel Barroso

There have been 120 major forest fires this year, compared with just 52 in of 2006.

Firefighters are still battling three blazes in the Peloponnese, fire officials say, with Mount Parnon the worst affected area.

Temperatures of up to 40C (104F) were expected on Saturday, but a break in the weather is due on Sunday.

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188468287/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188468287/html/1.stm', '1188468357', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=613,left=312,top=100'); return false;"></a>Satellite images show how the spread of the fires has changed<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188468287/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188468287/html/1.stm', '1188468357', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=613,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image</a>

At a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Mr Barroso said the EU could offer more aid than the solidarity funds it has already made available.

"We are with you and we will stay with you... we will do everything we can to support Greece," he said.

"The Greek problem is a European problem... now we must rebuild what has been destroyed."

On Friday, European Commissioner Danuta Huebner said the EU could pay up to 600m euros (£410m; $820m) in fire aid to Greece this year.