“Today we are in Poggio Renatico, witnesses of what, in the future, may represent the beginnings of a true integrated defense system in Europe. Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain , Netherlands and the United Kingdom have put together the energies to create a center of excellence for the recovery of military and civilian personnel in crisis areas. Energy of countries representing 93.3% of European GDP. ” With these words, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Pasquale Preziosa, it opened the ceremony of inauguration of the European Personnel Recovery Center (EPRC), the European center for people recovering from crisis areas.
The EPRC is a multi-national unit formed in 2013 under the European Air Group (EAG), a forum for cooperation between the Chiefs of Staff of the Air Forces of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Spain in order to increase the capacity of their air forces. Based at the Air Force base of Poggio Renatico (Ferrara), the center deals with all issues related to the subject of Personnel Recovery, the recovery of isolated persons in combat areas whether civilian and military – between them diplomats, journalists, volunteers and citizens. The center also fulfills the task of supporting any actual operation.
The ceremony was presided over by the Italian Minister of Defence who emphasized that “I wanted to be here today for the overall significance of this ceremony. The ‘European Personnel Recovery Center’ will have a key role in the defense and will also be an important message for the Italian armed forces. I believe that this will be a great success, we are pleased that Italy is to host this center”.
Also at this event was the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Claudio Graziano, who in his speech highlighted that the Centre, which has become reality, shows “willingness to cooperate and collaborate in many areas in which the development of our system, resources and our ability can help us to cope with risks and threats becoming more common”.
During the ceremony was a demonstration of a Personnel Recovery mission that involves a series of actions, means and professionals available to the Air Force. Examples include refueling, Special Forces coordination, through to the air defense and Combat SAR.
During the ceremony was able to attend a demonstration of the personnel recovery exercise that includes and involves a series of actions, means and professionals available to the Air Force. By refueling arrival Special Forces, through the air defense and Combat SAR or the search and rescue in combat areas.