Today the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, has spoken on the phone with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

Mogherini conveyed to the President her personal grief and her European colleagues’ solidarity after a devastating earthquake hit central Italy last night.

The whole of Europe feels Italy’s pain and has immediately offered support, Mogherini stressed.

She told the President that the European Commission has already addressed the first requests coming from Italy, and stands ready to mobilise all the resources and the instruments that are foreseen in circumstances of this kind.