Italy will formally ask to benefit from a special European Union fund earmarked for the consequences of natural disasters, Italy's permanent representative to the EU said on Monday.
''On instructions from our government, I have informed the European Commission of the intention of the Italian government to seek access to the European fund for support following natural disasters, '' Ferdinando Nelli Feroci said.
Italy's representative made his announcement on the sidelines of a meeting of EU interior and justice ministers and said he had personally informed EC Vice President Jacques Barrot, who was at the meeting, of Rome's intentions.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi had earlier announced that Rome would use this funds to help deal with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake which rocked the central region of Abruzzo in the early morning hours of Monday and left over 90 people dead and thousands homeless.
