09/07/2015 - "Today we are in Poggio Renatico, witnesses of what, in the future, could represent the embryo of a true European integrated defense system. Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom have combined their energies to create a pole of excellence for the recovery of military and civilian personnel in crisis areas. Energy from countries that represent 93,3% of European GDP ".

With these words, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, general of air squad Pasquale Preziosa, opened the inauguration ceremony of the European Personnel Recovery Center (EPRC), the European center for the recovery of people from areas of crisis.

The EPRC is a multi-national project started in 2013 and conducted within the European Air Group (EAG), a cooperation forum comprising the Chiefs of Staff of the Belgian Air Force, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, United United and Spain in order to increase the capacity of the relevant Air Forces.

It is based at the Air Force base in Poggio Renatico (Ferrara) and is the center that deals with all problems related to the personnel recovery sector, i.e. the recovery of military and civilians from crisis areas - among the latter diplomats, journalists, volunteers and citizens - who find themselves in difficult situations. The Center also fulfills the task of supporting any real operation.

The ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Defense who stressed how "I wanted to be here today because of the overall meaning of this ceremony: the European Personnel Recovery Center will play a fundamental role in the defense and it will also be an important message for the Italian armed forces. happy that Italy is hosting this center.

Also present at the event was the chief of the General Staff of Defense, General Claudio Graziano, who in his speech highlighted how the Center, now become a reality, demonstrates "the will to cooperate and collaborate in the many fields in which the establishment of our resources and capabilities can help us face increasingly widespread risks and threats".

During the ceremony it was possible to attend a demonstration exercise of the personnel recovery activity that includes and involves a series of actions, means and professional figures available to the Air Force. From refueling to the arrival of the Special Forces, through air defense and to Combat SAR, ie search and rescue in combat areas.

Source: Public Information Office, Rome - s.ten. Emanuela De Marchi